IRS layoffs spark protest in Ogden

OGDEN — Nearly 100 protesters gathered in Ogden Wednesday to speak out against the federal layoffs, especially those impacting local IRS employees.

Layoffs at the Ogden IRS began Wednesday.

Rob Lawrence, president of the local chapter at National Treasury Employees Union, said everyone at the Ogden IRS is devastated and scared they could be next.

“There is really a sense of dread, a sense of fear, and a whole lot of heartbreak,” he said.

Employees who have been with the IRS for under a year are the ones most at risk.

 

Krystal Kirkpatrick with the local union chapter told Utah’s Morning News that they’ve learned that as many as 1,000 probationary employees at the Ogden IRS could be losing their jobs by May 15.

And they’re anticipating that 100 employees could be terminated by Friday.

Related: Federal employee layoffs likely to impact Utah’s national parks

“We want the community to know and to understand that these people are critical to the mission of the IRS to getting our tax returns out [and] to getting our refunds out,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence expressed that it is going to be hard to fill the gaps of all those employees, but he said they are Utahns and they will grind to get the job done.

According to the New York Times, the IRS plans to lay off 6,000 employees nationwide by the end of the week. 

Lawrence shared that they are taking part in a national lawsuit asking the courts to block the mass firings. He said the union is also trying to support probationary employees by offering resources and information.

Kirkpatrick urged Utahns to contact their representatives if they want to support federal employees.

“Federal employees serve America. We took an oath and we take it seriously,” she said.

Related: Trump administration begins sweeping layoffs with probationary workers, warns of larger cuts to come