Stop the Dangerous Defunding of the IRS: Protect Fairness and Public Services

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the backbone of our nation's tax system, responsible for ensuring that everyone pays their fair share. Yet, the Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget would slash the IRS budget to its lowest level in decades, with a 33% cut to enforcement. Congress is considering even deeper reductions. These cuts come on top of previous claw-backs of funding meant to modernize the agency and improve its ability to audit wealthy individuals and large corporations.

Defunding the IRS will only embolden tax cheats, increase the federal deficit, and shift the tax burden onto honest, law-abiding citizens. The tax gap—the difference between taxes owed and taxes actually paid—already exceeds $600 billion per year. With fewer resources, the IRS will be unable to conduct meaningful audits or pursue complex cases, allowing the wealthy and powerful to game the system with impunity.

This is not just a budget issue—it's a matter of fairness and democracy. When the IRS is weakened, public trust in our system erodes and vital services like Social Security, healthcare, and education lose funding. We cannot allow cuts that benefit the few at the expense of the many. We demand that Congress and the President restore and protect IRS funding, invest in modernizing its systems, and appoint experienced, independent leadership to ensure the agency serves the public good.