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IRS workforce slashed in half as government shutdown showdown stretches into second week

IRS workforce slashed in half as government shutdown showdown stretches into second week

Nearly half of the IRS workforce — nearly 34,000 employees — faces furloughs as the government shutdown enters its second week, with the agency rolling out a contingency plan to keep key tax enforcement, data security, and filing-season operations running despite the lapse in congressional funding. In a letter to staff Wednesday, the agency said most operations would shut down. The contingency plan, which takes effect Wednesday and runs through April 30, 2026, details how the IRS will operate without new congressional funding. As of July 24, 2025, the IRS employed 74,299 people. During the shutdown, only 39,870 — about 54% — will stay on duty, though it’s unclear which positions will be retained. Key operations that will continue to include tax processing to safeguard government revenue, IT and data-protection systems, criminal investigations, case work involving bankruptcies and liens, and disaster-relief support. However, taxpayer services — including call centers and most administrative functions not tied to life or property protection — will be suspended. ICE VOWS ‘NO CHANGE’ TO IMMIGRATION, BORDER POLICY AMID GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN The IRS’s Lapse Appropriations Contingency Plan outlined operations for the first five business days of the shutdown and said the agency would continue limited operations using Inflation Reduction Act funding. The furloughs stem from a funding impasse between President Donald Trump and Congress that has forced a government shutdown with no clear resolution. HERE’S WHAT TRUMP WANTS TO DO TO RESHAPE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DURING THE SHUTDOWN National Treasury Employees Union President Doreen Greenwald said the shutdown has cut off Americans from vital IRS services. “Expect increased wait times, backlogs and delays implementing tax law changes as the shutdown continues,” she said. “Taxpayers around the country will now have a much harder time getting the assistance they need, just as they get ready to file their extension returns due next week. Every day these employees are locked out of work is another day of frustration for taxpayers and a growing backlog of work that sits and waits for the shutdown to end. SEN RICK SCOTT, REP BYRON DONALDS: TRUMP AND BESSENT’S IRS REFORM: LET’S END JOB-KILLING POLICIES “For frontline employees, the complete lack of planning left them in the dark about their work status until their supervisor informed them today,” Greenwald added. “This is not the way our government should treat its dedicated, nonpartisan public servants. We urge the administration and Congress to reach an agreement that reopens government and restores the services that Americans need and deserve.” According to The Associated Press, the IRS told employees they would receive back pay once the shutdown ends. The Trump administration warned Tuesday that back pay for furloughed federal employees is not guaranteed. Earlier this year, the IRS began a series of workforce reductions that brought total employment down from about 100,000 at the end of 2024 to roughly 75,000 before the shutdown. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Trump calls Chicago mayor and Illinois governor ‘grossly incompetent’ in new White House video

Trump calls Chicago mayor and Illinois governor ‘grossly incompetent’ in new White House video

The White House ramped up its feud with Democratic leaders in Illinois Wednesday, releasing a video blasting Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. In the video, which appears to show police and immigration authorities, President Donald Trump described Chicago as “a mess.” “You have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent,” Trump said. “We have a governor that refuses to admit he has problems. Everybody knows how bad it is. This open borders nightmare flooded our country with fentanyl and with people that shouldn’t be here, some of the worst people on earth and illicit drugs decimated American communities and left us with the largest law enforcement challenge in our country’s history.” JB PRITZKER SAYS ICE ‘HARASSING PEOPLE FOR NOT BEING WHITE’ The White House then skipped to an audio clip of Pastor Corey Brooks speaking on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” in August, where he noted violent crime wasn’t improving in Chicago and urged the president to send in the National Guard. “We need to invite President Trump in,” Brooks said in the clip. “We invite the National Guard in. … We’ve had 254 deaths in 233 days, and for anyone in our community to say people are safe, that is an outright lie.” TRUMP ESCALATES FIGHT WITH PRITZKER AS BLOODY CHICAGO WEEKEND SPARKS TROOP WARNING The focus shifted back to Trump, as he added Chicago “needs help.” “They need help, badly,” the president said. “Chicago desperately needs help. We don’t want to lose Chicago. We’re going to lose Chicago. We want to save these folks. We’re going to lose them. We’re not going to allow this kind of savagery to destroy our society anymore. We’re stopping it. One by one.” The video was posted hours after Trump called for Johnson and Pritzker’s arrests on Truth Social. “Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” Trump wrote in a post. Pritzker fired back on X, saying “what else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism,” and noting he would not “back down.” The two Illinois leaders have clashed with the president over immigration enforcement and Trump’s decision to send National Guard troops to the state to protect federal personnel and property amid escalating anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protests in Broadview. Texas National Guard troops arrived in Illinois this week and were mobilized for an initial 60-day period. TRUMP SLAMS PRITZKER ON CHICAGO CRIME; GOVERNOR’S REPORTED WEIGHT LOSS FUELS 2028 SPECULATION Pritzker on Tuesday accused Trump of being a “man who’s suffering dementia,” alleging the president “doesn’t read,” according to The Chicago Tribune. “This is a man who has something stuck in his head. He can’t get it out of his head,” Pritzker said. “He doesn’t read. He doesn’t know anything that’s up to date. It’s just something in the recesses of his brain that is effectuating to have him call out these cities.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “And then, unfortunately, he has the power of the military, the power of the federal government to do his bidding, and that’s what he’s doing,” he added.

Fox News Politics Newsletter: Liberal media darling under fire after viral interview

Fox News Politics Newsletter: Liberal media darling under fire after viral interview

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics coverage. Here’s what’s happening… – Behind the scenes of Trump’s anticipated Antifa roundtable with Cabinet members – Comey pleads not guilty to indictment alleging false statements, obstruction – Supreme Court skeptical of ‘conversion therapy’ law banning treatment of minors with gender identity issues Conservatives on social media blasted California Democrat Katie Porter, widely seen by Democrats as a frontrunner in the state’s gubernatorial race, after she cut short a contentious interview over follow-up questions from a reporter. The viral moment happened in a clip posted Tuesday night where Porter took issue with the line of questioning from CBS investigative journalist Julie Watts, who was pushing Porter on whether she can and needs to appeal to the millions of Trump voters in the state to become the next governor. “I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative,” Porter said, adding, “I don’t want to keep doing this, I’m going to call it.”…READ MORE. ‘SUFFERING DEMENTIA’: Pritzker hurls ‘dementia’ claim at Trump amid National Guard feud despite defending Biden’s mental fitness ‘SHOULD BE IN JAIL’: Trump says Chicago mayor, Illinois governor ‘should be in jail for failing to protect’ ICE officers ‘MOST SECURE’: Trump admin announces fewest border apprehensions since 1970 HEATED REMARKS: Kamala Harris takes apparent shot at Trump admin in bizarre outburst: ‘These mother—– are crazy’ ‘SERIOUS FIREPOWER’: Kushner joins Witkoff for Gaza ceasefire talks as Trump pushes 20-point peace plan DECOUPLING DEBATE: Think tank founder faces scrutiny over China corporate ties despite decoupling advocacy BROKEN PEACE: Houthi rebels test US ceasefire with deadly strike on cargo ship ILL HEALTH: Moderate Dem undercuts Jeffries on Obamacare compromise as government shutdown wears on DEMS DIG IN: Senate Democrats defy White House warnings, again block GOP bid to restart government SERVING THE COUNTRY: Johnson rejects push for military pay fix as shutdown fight intensifies SPENDING STANDOFF: Reporter’s Notebook: Senate revotes today on ending government shutdown PICKING UP THE TAB: Vulnerable Harris-district Republican brings in more than $1M as Dems scramble to flip seat HISTORIC HOLDUP: Government shutdown 101: We’ve been here before, here’s what happens next TAXPAYERS PAY UP: Obamacare subsidies at center of Dem shutdown fight ‘fuel’ healthcare cost inflation, conservatives say ‘WEREN’T SURVEILLED’: Dem rep defends DOJ obtaining GOP senator call records in 2023: ‘You weren’t surveilled’ UPHILL CLIMB: Democrat Aftyn Behn advances to special election in battle for vacant congressional seat in deep-red district COST OF IDEALS: Cuomo rips Mamdani’s freebie ‘fantasy,’ says AOC proved socialism fails after killing NYC Amazon deal FOLLOW THE MONEY: Who is Elizabeth Simons? Meet the largest individual donor to Virginia’s disgraced Dem AG nominee CAMPUS CHAOS: Protesters attempt to justify Hamas attack on Israel with ‘Columbia Intifada’ newspaper on Oct. 7 anniversary FUNDING THREAT: State rep’s bill would punish colleges financially if they don’t rename roads after Charlie Kirk END OF CAMELOT: Joan Kennedy, wife of Sen. Ted Kennedy for 22 years, dead at 89 ‘I DON’T CARE’: Controversial Dem abruptly ends bonkers interview after repeatedly berating reporter: ‘I don’t care’ LEGACY LIVES ON: Turning Point Montana State event featuring Ramaswamy, Gianforte draws thousands ‘NAUSEATING’: Republican labels Mamdani as ‘little more than a Muslim terrorist,’ advocates yanking citizenship, deportation Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.