National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) National Executive Vice President Doreen Greenwald joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss how budget cuts and staffing issues have affected Internal Revenue Service employees in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NTEU represents about 62,000 IRS employees.
Greenwald explained that the IRS has been underfunded and understaffed for decades. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated the problem, as the responsibilities of the IRS grew to include the processing of pandemic relief payments and the expanded Child Tax Credit, she said. Nevertheless, the employees of the IRS have done a phenomenal job rising to the challenge, she added.
Greenwald discussed Republican proposals to cut IRS staffing, an approach she said did not make sense, as the agency is already struggling. When the IRS is properly funded and well staffed, it is able to respond to the American public and enforce tax laws appropriately to prevent tax scams.
She explained the IRS staffing issues cannot be addressed until Congress provides adequate funding to the agency. Provisions in the Build Back Better budget reconciliation bill would increase the funding, if passed, she added.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.