DOGE targets IRS in sweeping government efficiency push

• Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative targets the IRS to streamline federal operations and cut wasteful spending, aligning with Trump’s efficiency agenda.
• IRS executives were instructed to justify “non-essential” contracts, part of a broader government-wide effort to eliminate inefficiencies.
• The IRS review is significant due to its role in managing taxpayer dollars and its history of inefficiency, with DOGE aiming to save billions.
• While critics like Sen. Elizabeth Warren oppose the timing and methods, polls show strong public support for Trump and Musk’s efficiency efforts.

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has turned its attention to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in its efforts to streamline federal operations and eliminate wasteful spending.

Gavin Kliger, a senior adviser working with Musk, arrived at the IRS headquarters in Washington on Thursday, marking the first direct engagement between DOGE and the tax-collecting agency. The review comes as part of President Donald Trump’s broader initiative to cut waste, fraud, and inefficiency across federal agencies, even as critics decry the timing during the busy tax season.

The IRS is now under the microscope as DOGE seeks to identify cost-saving opportunities. Trump praised the effort, stating, “DOGE is doing a great job, and no agency will escape Musk’s gaze.” The move aligns with the administration’s commitment to reducing the federal workforce and eliminating unnecessary spending, a cornerstone of Trump’s agenda.

Scrutinizing non-essential contracts

According to an email obtained by Reuters, senior IRS executives were instructed to identify and justify all “non-essential” contracts. The directive, issued by the General Services Administration (GSA), defines non-essential contracts as those that produce reports, research, or coaching without direct operational impact. “Consistent with the goals and directives of the Trump administration to eliminate waste, reduce spending, and increase efficiency, GSA has taken the first steps in a government-wide initiative to eliminate non-essential consulting contracts,” the email states.

This push to cut wasteful spending is a key focus for the Trump administration. Under Musk’s guidance, DOGE has already initiated reviews across several federal agencies, including the Department of Education and the Pentagon. The IRS review, however, is particularly significant given its role in managing taxpayer dollars and its reputation for inefficiency.

The Trump administration has long championed efforts to reduce the size and cost of the federal government. Trump also ordered the Treasury Department to stop producing pennies, which cost 3.69 cents each to make, saving taxpayers millions annually. Similarly, Musk’s DOGE has been tasked with identifying billions in wasteful spending across agencies, including the Department of Defense, which has a 2025 budget of $850 billion.

Musk’s relentless focus on efficiency has garnered widespread public support. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 61% of Americans back Trump’s plan to downsize the federal government. Even some Democrats, like California Rep. Ro Khanna, acknowledge that the administration is likely to uncover “awful examples of wasteful spending.”

Critics cry foul, but taxpayers rejoice

Despite the clear benefits of these efforts, some progressives have criticized the timing of the IRS review, calling it an overreach. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) accused Musk of “seizing power from the American people” and running a “wrecking ball through the government.” Yet, such criticisms ring hollow to taxpayers who have long demanded accountability for how their money is spent.

A CBS News/YouGov poll found that 70% of Americans believe Trump is doing what he promised during his campaign, and 53% approve of his job performance. The administration’s commitment to fiscal responsibility resonates with voters who are tired of seeing their hard-earned dollars wasted on bloated bureaucracies.

As DOGE expands its reach, the IRS review sets a precedent for similar audits across federal agencies. Trump and Musk’s partnership represents a rare opportunity to bring private-sector efficiency to government operations, saving taxpayers billions in the process. While critics may decry the timing or methods, the results speak for themselves: a leaner, more efficient federal government that prioritizes the needs of the American people over bureaucratic bloat.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

TheNationalPulse.com

USAToday.com

Reuters.com