IRS moves to hire 8,000 employees after DOGE cuts, memo reveals [View all]

Source: The Independent

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The Internal Revenue Service has received special permission to quickly hire 8,000 employees through September, according to a memo obtained by NOTUS, after more than a quarter of the agency was downsized during Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts last year.

Trump administration officials had initially brushed off concerns that the IRS would struggle to handle the 2026 tax season with significantly fewer employees. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers in April the agency was “still able to maintain current services and implement new initiatives.”

IRS chief Frank Bisignano also told members of the Senate Finance Committee in April that it had been “the most successful filing season in IRS history.” However, according to the February memo, seen by NOTUS, the IRS asked the Treasury Department for special authority to hire 8,000 employees on an expedited basis – indicating the agency knew it needed more support, despite officials' public comments.

The agency was eventually approved for the special project under “direct hire authority,” which allows agencies to circumvent traditional hiring processes when “there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need.” The Independent has asked the IRS and Office of Personnel Management for comment.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/irs-moves-to-hire-8-000-employees-after-doge-cuts-memo-reveals/ar-AA25vOIO