People exit the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building in Washington, DC, February 20, 2025.
Kent Nishimura | Reuters
The IRS announced Wednesday that it is furloughing nearly half of its workforce due to the ongoing government shutdown.
About 34,000 IRS employees are furloughed, according to the tax agency. Another 39,870 employees, representing 53.6% of the workforce, will remain on the job.
The furloughs came as the federal government’s shutdown was in its eighth day and funding resolutions that would end the crisis for a sixth time failed to pass Senate votes.
“Due to the expiration of the appropriations, most IRS operations are closed,” the agency said in a message to employees Wednesday.
“An IRS-wide furlough began on October 8, 2025 for everyone except already identified excluded and exempt employees,” the message said.
“Employees who are not exempt or excluded are furloughed and placed in a no-pay, no-duty status until further notice; however, all employees must plan to report to work for their next tour of duty.”
Furloughed IRS workers were informed in a letter that they would receive back pay when the shutdown ends. The letter came a day after a draft internal memo suggested the Trump administration could question its obligation to return wages to some furloughed employees.
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