President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping initiative to close more than 120 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offices across the United States, targeting taxpayer assistance centers as part of a broader push to shrink the federal government. The decision, detailed in a February 2025 letter from the U.S. General Services Administration, aligns with Trump’s efficiency agenda, led by the Department of Government Efficiency under Elon Musk. The closures, affecting at least 113 centers, coincide with the layoff of 7,000 probationary IRS employees, primarily in auditing and collections, reducing the agency’s workforce by about 7%.
These centers, expanded under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act to over 360 nationwide, provide critical in-person support for taxpayers navigating complex issues like audits and identity theft. With the tax filing season ending April 15, critics warn that closures could disrupt services, particularly for low-income, elderly, and non-English-speaking taxpayers reliant on face-to-face assistance. The administration insists the move will cut costs, with soft-term leases terminated unless deemed “public-facing.” Employees have 120 days to vacate once landlords are notified.
Supporters argue the cuts reverse Biden-era IRS overreach, while detractors, including former IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, caution that slashing resources could hamper tax collection and compliance. The long-term impact on taxpayers remains unclear, raising questions about access to essential services in a digital-first era.
