The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has begun major workforce reductions, with over 20,000 employees expected to be cut, according to a source familiar with the agency’s internal announcement.
The layoffs, which will target 20%-25% of the IRS workforce, also include the elimination of the civil rights office.
The civil rights office, previously known as the office of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), will see 75% of its staff laid off, with the remaining workers being reassigned to other departments.
This move is part of a broader federal workforce restructuring, which has already resulted in the loss of over 200,000 jobs. President Donald Trump has appointed Elon Musk to oversee these government downsizing efforts. The mass layoffs, set to unfold in phases, come at a particularly busy time for the IRS, as it approaches the April 15 deadline for most individual tax returns.
Civil rights organizations have criticized the move, arguing that DEI initiatives are essential for addressing long-standing inequities.
