The US federal government shutdown entered its second week on the 8th. Both Republican and Democratic temporary funding bills failed to pass the Senate that day, further frustrating efforts to end the shutdown.

According to the latest contingency plan released by the IRS that day, due to the ongoing shutdown, more than 34,000 employees will be furloughed starting on the 8th. In a separate letter to employees, the agency stated that most IRS operations have ceased due to the interruption of federal funding. According to US media reports, the IRS will have approximately 100,000 employees by the end of 2024. Since President Trump took office in January, the IRS has been a key target of the Trump administration’s massive federal layoffs, currently employing fewer than 75,000 people.