When’s the last time anyone was ever excited to hear from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)? For many, simply hearing that name causes one to audibly groan. The government agency in charge of collecting taxes has always been a thorn in the side of Americans’.

During his term, former President Joe Biden caused quite a bit of controversy when he looked to expand the IRS. There were even reports at the time that the agency would be hiring more armed agents which obviously didn’t sit well with the vast majority of U.S. citizens.

But now, thanks to efforts from President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the IRS may be yet another government agency that will be hit with cuts to its workforce. This would be a much needed overhaul to a government program that causes headaches for countless people. If these cuts come to pass, filing taxes might just become a little less agonizing.

Trump Administration Targets IRS with Bold Workforce Reduction Plan

Reports indicate the Trump administration and DOGE are eyeing a hefty 20 percent reduction in the IRS workforce. According to CNN, an email from DOGE laid out the plan, with President Trump pushing to scale back the agency by mid-May. “The details of the IRS proposal have been laid out in an email from DOGE and will be discussed at a meeting among agency leadership Thursday morning, according to a source familiar with the matter who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation,” the report noted.

The proposal remains under wraps for now, but the numbers are striking: nearly 6,800 employees could face layoffs, adding to the 6,700 probationary workers already let go and 4,700 who opted for the administration’s “Fork in the Road” voluntary buyout program.

The fallout from these moves is still murky. A court ruling on Thursday ordered the reinstatement of some probationary workers axed from six federal agencies, including the Treasury Department, which oversees the IRS. “It’s unclear how many of the roughly 6,700 fired probationary employees will be reinstated,” CNN reported, leaving the final tally up in the air.

Ripple Effects and Worker Woes

Critics warn that slashing the IRS could dent the revenue stream that keeps the federal government humming. “These cuts could impact the amount of revenue the IRS brings in and that could ripple through the federal government as IRS funds nearly all government operations,” the anonymous source told CNN. Tax season may peak on April 15, but the agency churns through returns all year long—a task that could stumble if staffing takes a hit. One insider put it bluntly: “This move could dramatically reduce revenue, dramatically reduce customer service.”

Inside the IRS, employees are feeling the strain. One worker vented to CNN about the constant upheaval: “More and more of our workdays are taken up by questions, meetings, new issues coming down the pike and new directives from outside our agency.” He added, “All we want to do is do our jobs.” Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that DOGE has directed the acting IRS commissioner to slash over 18,000 jobs by May 15, with the tax compliance division (8,260 cuts) and taxpayer services (3,247 cuts) bearing the brunt.

A Step Forward—or a Stumble?

The push to shrink the IRS has sparked its share of controversy. DOGE raised eyebrows when reports emerged of attempts to access taxpayer data, prompting fears over privacy breaches. The Department of Homeland Security also reportedly leaned on the IRS for addresses of nearly one million undocumented immigrants, adding fuel to the debate. Still, for many, this downsizing feels like a breath of fresh air—a sharp break from Biden’s expansion efforts, which aimed to tighten the screws on everyday Americans.

But why stop at cuts? The IRS has long outlived its welcome, and shutting it down entirely could be the bold move Americans deserve. Imagine a world without the annual dread of tax season, without the maze of forms and the looming threat of audits. The agency’s sprawling bureaucracy soaks up billions just to operate, yet it often feels like a machine built to harass rather than help. Replacing it with a simpler, fairer system—like a flat tax or a national sales tax—could free up resources, boost economic growth, and let people keep more of their hard-earned money.

Shuttering the IRS would also strike a blow against government overreach. For too long, it’s been a tool for political agendas, whether chasing down citizens or piling on regulations that choke small businesses. Eliminating it altogether would signal a return to first principles: a government that serves, not suffocates. The Trump administration’s workforce cuts are a promising start, but dismantling the IRS completely could be the real game-changer—a legacy worth fighting for that puts power back in the hands of the people.

Do you think the IRS should be shut down completely? As always, let us know in the comments!