Trump’s efficiency crusade wipes out another government agency. The administration’s latest streamlining effort removed a federal tech team behind the IRS’s free tax filing service, raising questions about how this will affect taxpayers during the current filing season.
At a Glance
- The Trump administration removed the 18F federal tech team that helped build the IRS’s free tax-filing platform
- Approximately 90 employees were deemed “non-critical” and lost their jobs
- Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency initiative, called 18F a “far-left government-wide computer office”
- The move aligns with Trump’s executive orders to eliminate waste and streamline government operations
- The free IRS tax filing site remains in operation despite the team’s removal
Trump Administration Dismantles Obama-Era Tech Team
President Trump’s administration continues to fulfill campaign promises to trim government waste by eliminating a federal tech team responsible for developing the IRS’s free tax-filing platform. The team, known as 18F, was established during the Obama administration and had approximately 90 employees who were deemed “non-critical” to operations, according to a General Services Administration spokesperson.
The federal tech team was established under President Obama with the mission of improving digital services across federal agencies. Their work focused on making government websites more accessible, modernizing technology infrastructure, expanding data access, and enhancing customer service experiences. Despite the team’s removal, the IRS’s free tax filing website remains operational for taxpayers during this tax season.
Musk’s DOGE Initiative Targets Government Waste
The termination of the 18F team aligns with President Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Workforce Optimization Initiative,” led by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
The initiative aims to review federal contracts and grants for waste, fraud, and abuse while justifying government payments and travel expenses. This bold approach to government reform has been praised by conservatives who have long criticized bloated federal bureaucracy.
Musk’s involvement in the efficiency initiative demonstrates Trump’s commitment to bringing business-minded leaders into government to address systemic waste. The administration’s Executive Order also directs agencies to work with DOGE to terminate unnecessary contracts and offload unneeded government real estate, potentially saving taxpayers billions of dollars. Streamlining operations and cutting redundant positions aligns with Trump’s campaign promises to drain the Washington swamp.
The efficiency push has not been without resistance, however. Twenty-one civil service employees resigned from DOGE, claiming they refused to dismantle critical public services. However, Musk quickly dismissed these resignations as nothing more than political obstruction from entrenched bureaucrats unwilling to support the administration’s reform agenda.
Look how much has changed in one month. Imagine how much more efficient the government will be in four years.
