Why This Article Was Flagged
Following widespread social media chatter and user inquiries, this article was flagged for investigation due to its claim that more than 20,000 IRS employees accepted a resignation offer under the Trump administration. A DBUNK user specifically asked whether these resignations came with a severance package. We’ve taken a deep dive to verify the numbers, review the context of the departures, and explore the implications surrounding those claims.
Historical Background
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has faced recurring political pressure over staffing, technology, and enforcement power for decades. During the Obama years, the IRS underwent budget cuts and conservative criticism over its nonprofit auditing practices. The Trump administration sought to downsize the federal workforce more broadly, part of its promise to “drain the swamp.” This included attempts to shrink the IRS through a mix of attrition, incentives, and restructured priorities regarding tax enforcement and immigration data sharing.
Evaluating Key Claims in the Article
Claim #1: “About 22,000 employees at the Internal Revenue Service have signed up for the Trump administration’s latest resignation offer.”
This claim is accurate but needs context. According to internal Treasury Department sources and reporting from The New York Times, around 22,000 IRS employees did enroll in the resignation program. However, not all participants will necessarily follow through with resignation. The program, referred to as a “deferred resignation offer,” allows employees to opt out before final separation. This voluntary separation initiative is part of broader federal reductions introduced by the Trump administration in 2025.
Claim #2: “Under the terms of the deferred resignation offer, employees will be put on paid administrative leave through September and then leave their federal jobs.”
This claim is mostly true. Documentation from the Office of Personnel Management confirms that under Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) and similar federal workforce reduction initiatives, employees can take administrative leave as part of exit packages. In this case, those who accepted the offer are scheduled to remain on payroll through administrative leave before officially departing. However, this isn’t considered a severance package in the private sector sense—it is more of a phased transition without added financial incentives beyond their existing benefits.
Claim #3: “Some employees who took the offer could still opt out of resigning.”
This is true. According to policies governing federal employment reduction plans, participants in voluntary separation incentives may reverse their decision up until final paperwork is processed. The New York Times’ language is consistent with how these decisions are managed under HR and OPM protocols, especially when large segments of the workforce are affected.
Claim #4: “The cuts have already caused the I.R.S. to abandon some audits.”
This is accurate and supported by recent reports. IRS budget cuts and staff reductions have historically led to decreased audit rates. In December 2024, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration reported a significant decline in audits since early 2023, especially among high-earning and corporate taxpayers. With thousands of staff reductions projected, including audit specialists, the agency has pulled back from several enforcement operations. The Government Accountability Office also confirms a drop in enforcement capacity dating back to 2022.
Conclusion: What Did We Learn?
The article is largely accurate, with a few important contextual clarifications. While 22,000 IRS workers have reportedly signed up for a Trump-era voluntary resignation program, the offer functions more like a deferred exit with administrative leave and not a traditional severance package. The answer to the user’s question is no: a severance package in the traditional, lump-payment sense was not part of the plan. Instead, employees were promised continued pay through administrative leave followed by their formal exit. Additionally, the article correctly highlights the potential risks to tax enforcement posed by a third of the workforce leaving—though it could have explored more data around historical staffing patterns and tax revenue outcomes.
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Source of Original Article
Read the original article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/15/us/politics/irs-resignations-trump.html
