IRS to begin laying off 6,000 employees Thursday: Report

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) – The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will begin laying off approximately 6,000 employees Thursday as part of the Trump administration’s effort to downsize the federal workforce, The New York Times reported, citing sources familiar with the plan.

The layoffs will primarily affect probationary employees -- those who have not yet gained full job protections -- according to internal messages viewed by the newspaper.

IRS managers reportedly instructed affected employees to return to the office with their government-issued equipment.

The IRS has around 100,000 employees nationwide, including accountants, lawyers and other personnel.

The Trump administration has already imposed a hiring freeze on the agency, with reports indicating that some IRS agents have been asked to help with immigration enforcement efforts.

The IRS and the Treasury Department have not commented on the layoffs.