IRS Furloughs Expose Washington’s Ineptitude Amid Prolonged Shutdown

The Internal Revenue Service is set to furlough nearly half its workforce as the government shutdown enters its second week, a stark symptom of the broader failure in Washington to responsibly manage federal operations. According to an updated contingency plan posted on the IRS website, only about 53.6% of IRS staff—just under 40,000 employees—will remain on duty, leaving critical tax enforcement and processing functions crippled.This unfolding crisis did not materialize out of nowhere. It is the direct consequence of political gridlock and misplaced priorities that put bureaucratic bickering above American families’ needs for efficient government services. How long will Congress...