Trump Job Cuts Target Federal Giants
The Trump administration unleashed Trump job cuts on February 20, 2025, axing over 11,000 positions at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Pentagon to shrink the federal workforce. The IRS began shedding 6,000 probationary workers Thursday, mid-tax season, as millions file returns by April 15. The Pentagon follows next week, cutting 5,400 jobs and freezing hiring, aiming for a 5-8% reduction in its 950,000-strong civilian staff. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) drives this cost-slashing spree, targeting new and newly promoted employees to refocus priorities.
At the IRS, an email from CBS News revealed these roles—half from the Small Business/Self-Employed Division—aren’t “critical” to tax season, despite 3,500+ terminations by week’s end. With 83,000 employees in 2023, the agency faces strain, especially in compliance roles ensuring tax collection. Harvard’s Linda Bilmes told the BBC that taxpayers hate unreachable help more than paying taxes—cuts could spark chaos. The Biden-era $80 billion IRS boost, meant to chase wealthy evaders, now unravels as Republicans, including Trump, push lower taxes and an “External Revenue Service” via tariffs.
Trump Job Cuts Reshape Pentagon Priorities
The Pentagon’s Trump job cuts, starting with 5,400 probationary workers next week, signal a leaner future. A defence statement projects a 5-8% civilian workforce drop—up to 76,000 jobs—to “restore readiness” and align with Trump’s goals. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth backs this, posting on X to “cut the fat” at headquarters and bolster warfighters. The largest federal agency, with nearly a million civilians, now pivots under DOGE’s axe. A hiring freeze amplifies the shift, raising questions about long-term impacts on national security operations.
Public sentiment wavers. A Washington Post/Ipsos poll shows 54% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s federal overhaul, versus 44% who approve. For more, visit BBC or Kenkou Land.
Main Body: Backlash Brews as Cuts Bite
Trump job cuts hit hard and fast. The IRS’s 6,000 layoffs, launched February 20, shred probationary hires—those under a year or newly shifted—mid-tax rush. An SBSE email from Commissioner Lia Colbert confirmed over 3,500 cuts, targeting compliance staff who chase owed taxes. Bilmes warns of service breakdowns as filers seek aid. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s Fox News quip about abolishing the IRS for an import-tax model underscores Trump’s vision, but no proof backs it yet. The BBC sought IRS and Treasury comment—silence so far.
The Pentagon’s 5,400-job slash, set for next week, kicks off a broader 5-8% cull—potentially 47,500 to 76,000 roles. Hegseth’s “cut fat, grow muscle” mantra aligns with DOGE’s efficiency push, but critics see risks to readiness. Musk’s chainsaw, wielded since DOGE’s inception, delights Republicans who loathe bloated bureaucracy yet alarms others. Today, February 21, 2025, at 11:58 PM PST, backlash simmers—54% disapproval hints at unrest. Tax season teeters, defense pivots, and Musk’s cuts roll on. Will savings outweigh chaos? Americans watch, divided.
