Ending funding for 87,000 IRS agents is approved by the new GOP-led House

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After voting to revoke almost $70 billion in funding for the Internal Revenue Service on Monday night, the House of Representatives carried on Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s pledge to stop the agency from recruiting 87,000 more agents and doing new audits of Americans.

🚨 House Republicans just voted unanimously to repeal the Democrats' army of 87,000 IRS agents 🚨

This was our very first act of the new Congress, because government should work for you, not against you.

Promises made. Promises kept.
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) January 10, 2023

The Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, sponsored by Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Michelle Steel (R-CA), was approved by a vote of 221-210 and revokes funds that might have been used to expand the agency’s existing size and launch additional audits of American taxpayers.

The law reverses billions of dollars in IRS money that was granted under the Inflation Reduction Act of last year. The Act does, however, maintain money for expanding IT services and improving customer service.

Following 15 rounds of voting on Friday night, McCarthy (R-CA) won the House speakership, prompting the vote. McCarthy stated in his first speech as Speaker that the first item he would introduce to the floor would be to revoke funding for the 87,000 IRS agents.

Speaker emeritus of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), referred to the Monday vote as “shameful, but not surprising.”

It is shameful, but not surprising, that @HouseGOP’s first order of business in this Congress is to protect corporate America and ultra-wealthy individuals who are illegally avoiding taxes.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 10, 2023

In a statement released on Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris also attacked the GOP measure, stating that “House Republicans are rushing to undo that progress and allow too many millionaires, billionaires, and corporations to cheat the system.”

According to a projection by the Congressional Budget Office, the Biden administration claims that the measure will result in an increase in tax fraud and avoidance of around $115 billion over a ten-year period.

Republican representative who knowingly opposed McCarthy’s bid as Speaker of the House, Lauren Boebert, celebrated the vote as the new House’s first big accomplishment.

The House voted in favor of a bill to DEFUND Biden’s 87,000 Person IRS Army.

The federal government’s days of being weaponized against the American people need to come to a swift end.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) January 10, 2023

The IRS had $80 billion assigned over ten years under the Inflation Reduction Act. The cash would have gone toward filling 87,000 open positions at the agency and more than half of the money was intended to combat tax evasion according to the bill.

Alejandro Suarez Basso

Independent Writer. Marketing and communications strategist for politicians, artists, public figures & corporate brands for more than 10 years. Contact: @alejandrosbasso (Twitter)
Escritor independiente. Consultor en marketing y comunicaciones de políticos, artistas, figuras públicas y marcas por más de 10 años. Contacto: @alejandrosbasso (Twitter)