IRS begins layoffs with eliminating civil rights office
The IRS started a new round of layoffs on Friday, beginning with the agency's Office of Civil Rights and Compliance, according to an email obtained by ABC News.
Overall, the agency is planning to cut nearly a quarter of its workforce with the cuts, according to people familiar with the plans.
"This action is being taken to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the IRS in accordance with agency priorities," according to the email, which also said the layoffs will "result in staffing cuts across multiple offices and job categories."
The civil rights office will be effectively shuttered by the move, with the remaining staffers moved into the Office of Chief Counsel, according to the email.
The agency had previously drawn up plans to cut roughly 18% to 20% of the 100,000-person workforce by the middle of May.
The email sent to IRS employees on Friday said the reduction in force will "be implemented in phases" and noted that employees will be offered early retirement incentives starting next week.
-ABC News' Ben Siegel