Trump ordered a hiring freeze on new IRS agents. Could it impact your tax return?
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The 2025 tax filing season is set to start next week. President Donald Trump has issued an indefinite hiring freeze for the Internal Revenue Service. Trump issued an executive order Monday night ordering a 90-day hiring freeze for all federal agencies — except for the Internal Revenue Service, which will remain under the freeze until his administration determines “that it is in the national interest” to hire again.
![[Donald Trump pictured signing a slew of executive orders Monday night. One of these orders establishes a hiring freeze for the IRS until his administration determines ‘it is in the national interest’ for officials to resume hiring]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/21/15/TRUMP-INVESTIDURA-CENSURA_21106.jpg)
“This order could leave agencies with hiring gaps in critical areas, and it will deter the talented workers needed for a well-functioning government, especially those with specialized skills,” Stier said. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, also told Government Executive there is "no legitimate rationale" for cutting federal employment.
![[The IRS says officials issue refunds within 21 days for taxpayers who file online and select the direct deposit option. However, some experts say this hiring freeze could slow down the work of public agencies as the U.S. enters tax season this spring.]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/21/16/SEI234050588.jpg)
“Make no mistake, this action is not about making the federal government run more efficiently but rather is about sowing chaos and targeting a group of patriotic Americans that President Trump openly calls crooked and dishonest,” Kelley said. The agency is now called the U.S. DOGE Service and will replace the U.S. Digital Service, which was established under former president Barack Obama.
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, is set to lead DOGE. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was initially set to co-lead DOGE, but departed the role this week ahead of an expected campaign for Ohio governor. The Independent has contacted the Treasury Department for comment.
