The IRS on Wednesday said that it was furloughing nearly half of its workforce due to the ongoing government shutdown .

About 34,000 IRS workers are being furloughed, according to the tax agency. Another 39,870 employees, representing 53.6% of the workforce, will remain on the job.

The furloughs came as the shutdown of federal government operations was in its eighth day, and as dueling funding resolutions that would end the crisis for the sixth time failed to pass in votes by the Senate .

"Due to the lapse in appropriations, most IRS operations are closed," the agency said in a message to employees on Wednesday.

"An IRS-wide furlough began on October 8, 2025, for everyone except already-identified excepted and exempt employees," the message said.

"Employees who are not e

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