IRS sends RIF notices as it begins widespread layoffs

The full timeline and scope of the cuts is unclear, but the first office to face them saw its workforce slashed by 75%.

The Internal Revenue Service began issuing layoff notices to employees on Friday in what is expected to be a sweeping reduction of the agency’s more than 90,000 employees.

IRS’ Office of Civil Rights and Compliance will be the first office to face the cuts, the agency’s human resources office said in an email sent to all staff on Friday. That office is set to lose 75% of its workforce through a reduction in force, and the remaining staff that does not separate by voluntary attrition will be absorbed into the Office of Chief Counsel to carry out its statutory responsibilities.

IRS made clear the civil rights office was only the first that will be affected by layoffs.

“The IRS has begun implementing a Reduction in Force (RIF) that will result in staffing cuts across multiple offices and job categories,” the agency said in an email obtained by Government Executive. “This action is being taken to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the IRS in accordance with agency priorities” and President Trump’s executive orders calling for workforce reductions.

IRS went on a hiring spree under President Biden after Congress approved an injection of $80 billion through the Inflation Reduction Act, with its workforce surpassing 100,000 employees. Republicans have since clawed some of that money back and Trump has frozen much of the remaining amount. His administration is expected to slash as many as 20,000 jobs from the agency.

The agency previously fired nearly 7,000 newly hired and promoted employees on their probationary periods, though a court has, for now, ordered them reinstated. IRS last week fired around 50 senior executives in IT, according to two sources familiar with the moves, and has shed additional staff through attrition. On his first day in office, Trump singled out IRS as the lone agency that would have to continue its hiring freeze beyond his first 90 days in office.

IRS told employees the layoffs will occur in phases, though it did not lay out any additional detail. A spokesman for the agency was unable to provide any additional information. The cuts began as the agency is in its busiest time of the year, with the annual tax filing deadline less than two weeks away.

“This message is only notification that the IRS has begun the RIF process and does not serve as your official notification,” the agency said in the email. “Each office will receive direct communication when their phase begins.”

Eligible IRS employees will receive early retirement and buyout incentives, with details forthcoming next week. Any reassignments or relocations are currently paused.

The human capital office directed employees to upload their current resume to an internal portal to “determine qualifications” during the RIFs.

“We remain committed to sharing information as soon as it becomes available and ensuring all employees have access to resources and support,” the agency said. “Thank you for your continued professionalism and commitment to supporting our mission.”

Danny Werfel, a Biden appointee, stepped down as IRS commissioner in January after Trump named a successor despite Werfel having two more years in his term. Trump tapped former Rep. Billy Long, R-Mo., to lead the agency, though he is still awaiting Senate confirmation. The administration has sought to use IRS data to determine whether undocumented immigrants were accessing certain federal benefits.

https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/04/irs-sends-rif-notices-it-begins-widespread-layoffs/404317/

Northglenn, Colorado is set to seize residents' pet cats and dogs

On August 1, pet owners in Northglenn - about 40 minutes outside of Denver - will not be allowed to have more than four cats, dogs, or a combination of the two 'totaling no more than four.'

The new pet ordinance was recently approved by the city council 'at the request of residents and after extensive research and discussion,' the city said.

The restriction was introduced after concerned residents complained of 'excessive noise and waste caused by a high number of pets in some neighborhoods.'

Any residents who currently own more pets than allowed can apply for a 'previously owned pet exception' before the ordinance comes into effect.

If the application is filled out before that date, Northglenn citizens will be allowed to keep their 'existing pets.'

Residents have to specify their pet's name, age, sex, breed and date they were brought into the home in the application.

If locals do not disclose this information and have more than the allowed number of pets in their home, the city will take 'enforcement action,' which includes 'a potential court order requiring pet removal.'

'Our goal is to work with residents to ensure compliance through education and outreach before any enforcement action is taken,' the city stated.

'Pets bring joy and companionship to our lives, but they also come with responsibilities. By establishing reasonable pet limits, we aim to ensure that everyone living in Northglenn, both pet owners and non-pet owners, can enjoy their homes and neighborhoods.

'Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we implement this new ordinance.'

Although there is not a statewide law limiting the number of pets allowed in a household, multiple cities surrounding Northglenn already have this ban in place.

Prior to this announcement, Northglenn was the only city in Adams County that did not have 'long-standing pet regulations' in place, the city said.

Residents quickly reacted to the news, which left many furious.

'I guess Northglenn is slowly progressing into becoming Russia since soon we'll only be able to have a certain number of pets,' a user said.

'What's next? Can only have one TV and one car in one household?'

Another person simply wrote: 'No way!!!'

Other cities and towns across the nation have pet ordinances in place for dogs and cats.

New Jersey does not have a statewide law, but certain towns, including Rahway and Hawthorne, place pet limits on residents.

People in those towns are allowed to have no more than three dogs or cats, according to World Population Review.

Similarly, North Carolina does not have a state pet ordinance, but in certain areas only one to three dogs or cats are allowed per household, data showed.

While many states leave it up to the cities and towns to decide, some, including California do not.

In the Golden State, each household is allowed to have four dogs or cats, and they have to be older than four months.

In Rhode Island, residents are allowed to own up to three adult dogs, as well as three adult cats per residence, according to the City of Providence.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14569353/colorado-seize-residents-pet-cats-dogs-northglenn.html

Pete Hegseth heads to Panama on Monday for security talks, troop visit

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will travel to Panama next week to participate in the 2025 Central American Security Conference (CENTSEC), followed by a stop at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑Who’s Involved: Hegseth will engage with senior civilian and military leaders from Panama and across Central America. He will also visit with members of the 7th Special Forces Group in Florida. The National Pulse Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam will accompany the Secretary on the trip.

🎯Why It Matters: As instability and transnational criminal activity rise in the region, Hegseth’s visit underscores the United States’ intent to deepen regional defense partnerships and maintain leadership in the Western Hemisphere.

📍Where & When: The trip begins early next week. Hegseth will first stop in Panama City, Panama, before traveling to Eglin AFB in Florida.

📣Official Word: “This trip supports our shared vision for a peaceful and secure Western Hemisphere,” said Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell.

IN FULL:

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will travel to Panama next week for the 2025 Central American Security Conference (CENTSEC), where he’ll hold high-level meetings with regional defense officials to strengthen U.S. partnerships in the Western Hemisphere. He will then continue to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to visit U.S. troops stationed with the elite 7th Special Forces Group.

The trip comes as U.S. officials look to solidify military relationships across Latin America amid rising concerns over cartel activity, Chinese influence operations, and political instability throughout the region. Hegseth’s meetings will include a series of bilateral sit-downs with senior military, civilian, and security leaders from Panama and neighboring nations.

Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell framed the visit as part of a broader push to reinforce regional security cooperation. “This trip supports our shared vision for a peaceful and secure Western Hemisphere,” Parnell said.

The National Pulse’s Editor-in-Chief, Raheem Kassam, will accompany Secretary Hegseth on the trip. This is a refreshing instance of an independent media figure embedded in an official Department of Defense delegation. Kassam will provide exclusive coverage and commentary on the trip’s proceedings, especially for members of The National Pulse.

CENTSEC, hosted annually, serves as a strategic venue for U.S. and Central American officials to coordinate efforts on transnational threats, narcotics trafficking, and irregular migration patterns—issues that have taken on renewed urgency since the Biden government’s destructive open border policies.

Following the conference in Panama City, Hegseth will travel to Eglin AFB to meet with command leadership and service members attached to the 7th Special Forces Group, a key unit in America’s unconventional warfare and regional engagement strategy.

The visit to Central America and one of the U.S. military’s premier special operations installations underscores the Pentagon’s dual mission: to build stronger partnerships abroad while maintaining elite readiness at home.

https://thenationalpulse.com/2025/04/04/exc-secdef-hegseth-heads-to-panama-for-security-talks-troop-visits/

President Donald Trump says Fed Chair Powell should cut interest rates and ‘stop playing politics’

President Donald Trump on Friday called for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to cut interest rates, even as his tariff blitz roiled markets and raised fears of a rebound in inflation.

“This would be a PERFECT time for Fed Chairman Jerome Powell to cut Interest Rates. He is always ‘late,’ but he could now change his image, and quickly,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Energy prices are down, Interest Rates are down, Inflation is down, even Eggs are down 69%, and Jobs are UP, all within two months - A BIG WIN for America. CUT INTEREST RATES, JEROME, AND STOP PLAYING POLITICS!”

Trump’s post comes as global equity markets are selling off sharply. The president’s new tariff policy, unveiled Wednesday, has raised concerns about a global economic slowdown.

The new trade policies may also be a barrier that keeps the Federal Reserve from cutting. The central bank has paused its rate cuts in recent meetings, in part because progress on reducing inflation appeared to have plateaued. The new tariffs could lead to a widespread rise in prices, at least temporarily, that further complicates the inflation picture.

On Friday, Powell told business journalists in Arlington, Virginia, that the Fed was “well positioned to wait for greater clarity” before making changes like rate reductions. He also said that the tariffs announced were “significantly larger than expected.”

Market-based interest rates have already fallen sharply this week, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield

now below 4%. Treasury yields often fall when investors are worried about a potential recession.

Movement in the fed funds futures market implies that traders now expect at least four rate cuts of 0.25 percentage point from the central bank this year, according to the CME’s FedWatch tool. At a meeting last month, central bankers projected just two rate reductions.

Trump has downplayed concerns about this week’s market volatility, at one point comparing the reaction to a patient who undergoes surgery.

When asked about those comments Friday, Powell said, “I make it a practice not to respond to any elected officials comments, so I don’t want to be seen to be doing that. It’s just not appropriate for me.”

Trump regularly commented on central bank policy during his first term as president and was often at odds with Powell. That has led to speculation that he might look to remove the Fed chair before his term ends next year. Trump said in December that he does not intend to fire Powell, and the Fed chair has said he doesn’t think the president is legally allowed to do so.

The Fed has two main goals in promoting price stability and maximizing employment. The March nonfarm payrolls report released Friday showed a slight increase in unemployment to 4.2%, but the rise of 228,000 jobs was more than expected.

Friday’s jobs report does not reflect any impact of the tariffs announced this week.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/04/trump-tariffs-jerome-powell.html

Rapid Response 47

@RapidResponse47

🚨 @AGPamBondi announces the FBI has arrested three illegal immigrant MS-13 gang members in Florida on first-degree murder charges.

https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1908137235251114207

This guy says it costs $10 to build the newest iPhones in China.

Bongland not looking too hot.

So this week I learned that basically no one knows what tariffs are.

>>22869065

>>22869061

Chinese slave labor is the key ingredient you missing.

>>22869093

Looks quite straight forward to me. Can you explain what you're confused over?