The IRS will furlough nearly half of its employees on Wednesday due to the ongoing government shutdown, according to an updated contingency plan posted on the agency’s website.
Only 39,870 employees — about 53.6% of the workforce — will continue working, though it’s unclear which staff will remain on duty. Last week, President Trump said roughly 750,000 federal workers could be furloughed nationwide, with some potentially facing termination.
Earlier this year, the IRS underwent mass layoffs led by the Department of Government Efficiency, cutting tens of thousands of positions. The agency, which employed about 100,000 workers at the end of 2024, now has a workforce of roughly 75,000.
