IRS failed to equip new hires

The Internal Revenue Service onboarded nearly 19,000 employees in 2024, but the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found that many of those hires did not receive equipment or performance expectations in a timely manner. 

In a report, TIGTA found that 40% of employees (an estimated 7,505) received their laptop more than five workdays after their start date, resulting in employees unable to perform job duties, participate in online training, access agency systems, connect with colleagues or complete onboarding tasks. It also found that 44% of employees (an estimated 8,253) did not receive their critical job elements, such as performance expectations, within 30 days of their start date.

The IRS also acknowledged that not all managers completed quarterly touchpoint activities — part of a program designed to guide managers' discussion with new employees during their first year, covering topics like training, employee development and performance.

In February 2025, the IRS announced sweeping layoffs, with estimates of between 6,000 and 7,000 employees being cut. Later in August of that year, the IRS reversed course on some of those cuts after realizing it reduced the staff too drastically. All in all, the IRS shed over 25% of its workforce that year.

Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

TIGTA made five recommendations to the IRS:

1. Determine when managers must request new laptops;
2. Formalize standard new employee orientation guidance with the requirements;
3. Alert managers when the performance plan is past due;
4. Establish guidance requiring managers to hold quarterly touchpoint meetings; and,
5. Require managers to conduct a minimum of three touchpoints during each annual appraisal period.
   

The IRS agreed to the first four recommendations and partially with the fifth.