Government Shutdown Suspends 46% of IRS Staff

• Government Shutdown Suspends IRS Staff
• 34,000 Employees Suspended
• Political Negotiations Stalled

According to the EFE news agency, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced on Wednesday that it will temporarily suspend more than 34,000 employees — about 46% of its workforce — due to the partial U.S. government shutdown that began a week ago.

The measure has sparked concern among taxpayers and experts, as it will impact public service and essential IRS operations.

In an official statement, the IRS explained that the suspension mainly affects call center staff, information technology workers, and most administrative operations.

With this decision, taxpayer assistance services will be practically paralyzed until the federal government resumes normal operations.

Economic Impact of the U.S. Government Shutdown

The U.S. tax agency IRS suspends 46% of its employees due to the federal government shutdown https://t.co/yGK2rGMnFq

— el Nuevo Herald (@elnuevoherald) October 8, 2025

The agency detailed that only employees responsible for implementing the tax and spending law signed in July by President Donald Trump will remain active.

All other staff will be placed on unpaid, inactive status for the duration of the shutdown, a measure already adopted by other federal departments.

However, the IRS stated that all employees must briefly report to their workplaces to complete closure tasks and receive official suspension notifications.

Each worker will have a maximum of four hours to fulfill these procedures before being released from duties.

Tax Services Paralyzed by the Shutdown

The U.S. government shutdown IRS has now lasted eight days, affecting multiple federal agencies, interrupting key services, and creating uncertainty across the U.S. economy.

For the IRS, the temporary suspension means citizens will not be able to contact the institution to resolve tax questions or access certain online services.

Analysts warn that if the shutdown continues, it could delay the processing of millions of tax returns and other fiscal procedures.

It could also complicate the implementation of measures outlined in Trump’s tax law passed last July.

Stalemate in Senate Negotiations

The Department of the Treasury, which oversees the IRS, stated that the immediate impact would be limited but warned that if the shutdown extends beyond two weeks, the effects will become significant.

Meanwhile, the agency has urged taxpayers to be patient and reminded them that legal deadlines for tax filings remain in effect.

The root of the U.S. government shutdown lies in the lack of agreement between Democrats and Republicans over a new federal funding plan.

Talks in the Senate have stalled due to disagreements over extending subsidies for the healthcare program known as Obamacare.

Labor Consequences of the Federal Government Shutdown

Republicans seek to reduce or eliminate part of those funds, while Democrats insist on maintaining them as part of basic health coverage.

This dispute has prevented the approval of a temporary funding plan that would reopen the government and restore affected services.

The Democratic majority leader in the Senate stated that the situation “is putting the country’s economic stability at risk.”

Meanwhile, the White House has reiterated that it will not negotiate under pressure and blames the opposition for the legislative gridlock.

Government Paralysis Persists

The U.S. government shutdown IRS crisis has affected hundreds of thousands of federal employees, many of whom are either working without pay or have been sent home without compensation.

In addition to the IRS, other agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the National Park Service have also reduced staff.

Experts warn that each day the shutdown continues represents millions of dollars lost in productivity and interrupted services.

Meanwhile, President Trump remains firm in his stance, refusing to yield to congressional demands.