Hundreds of Philadelphia IRS employees were blindsided by layoffs as part of the Trump administration’s aggressive move to slash government jobs. Many workers—some of whom even backed Trump—found themselves suddenly unemployed. One of them, Robert McCabe, opened up about the harsh reality of losing his job at the hands of the very administration he once supported.
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Trump’s Government Layoffs Hit IRS Workers Hard
The mass layoffs came as part of an initiative by the Department of Government Efficiency, following Trump’s orders to downsize the federal workforce. Nearly all probationary IRS employees—those without civil service protection—were let go.
Union representatives confirmed that hundreds of IRS workers in Philadelphia were affected. While government job cuts aren’t uncommon, the speed and scale of this move left many blindsided. Employees showed up for work as usual, only to find they could no longer log into their systems.
‘We Just Sat There, Waiting for Instructions’—A Firsthand Account
McCabe, who had worked at the IRS for a short period, described the confusion of the day.
“You know when he talks about government waste and all that, yes, I’m behind it,” McCabe told NBC10. “I believe there is a lot of stuff in the government that needs fixing.”
He initially believed Trump’s business-minded leadership would clean up inefficiencies, but instead, he saw a brutal mass termination play out.
“That’s part of the reason why I actually wanted to work for the government, actually. To help change. Help change the things that are wrong in the world, you know?”
Trump’s ‘Wrecking Ball’ Approach to Government Jobs
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McCabe, once a loyal Trump supporter, expressed regret and frustration after experiencing the administration’s drastic cuts firsthand.
“I thought that someone with his business acumen would have come in with a fine-tooth comb and actually found [government waste] instead of coming in with a wrecking ball and destroying people’s lives for no reason.”
IRS Layoffs—A Political Move or Budget Necessity?
The Trump administration justified the mass layoffs as part of its government reduction strategy, arguing that tax dollars shouldn’t support unnecessary positions. However, critics argue the move disproportionately impacted lower-level employees while sparing higher-ups.
Government watchdogs have warned that such drastic workforce reductions could backfire, leading to processing delays, increased workloads, and operational inefficiencies at the IRS.
Did Trump Betray His Own Supporters?
McCabe’s story isn’t unique—many Trump voters who worked in government found themselves caught in the very cuts they once supported.
While Trump’s rhetoric about eliminating “waste” resonated with his base, the mass layoffs left some questioning whether the former president prioritized political messaging over real reform.