IRS Expected to Lay Off Thousands

EM is probably just mad that he wasn't rich early enough in the life of the computer to have a dedicated IRS machine for his taxes [1].

In all seriousness, of all the things happening at the moment, this seems the most expected. Under-staffing the IRS was part of the first term [2], and a general move of right leaning executive administrations. Honestly, I would even be against it, just as long as they also made the tax code more straightforward and more bulletproof. But that second step never seems to happen.

[1]: https://www.forbes.com/2006/02/02/gates-irs-microsoft-cx_po_...

[2]: https://www.propublica.org/article/how-the-irs-was-gutted

Yeah, this makes "perfect sense." The IRS is the primary federal agency that generates net revenue with a positive return on every dollar invested. When the IRS receives more funding, it typically enhances tax enforcement efforts and increases the total revenue collected. It doesn't seem logical for DOGE to reduce staff when those employees contribute more revenue than they cost, resulting in a positive return on investment.

Unless they believe it's possible to maintain the same revenue collection with fewer people through increased automation, what are their motives? Laying off probationary employees still developing critical skills undercuts the IRS's long-term revenue goals. Increasing the performance standards for probation rather than terminating these new hires would help build a more effective workforce that generates more significant revenue. IMO, Elon and friends are just trying to reduce future tax enforcement and get away with more