Editor's Note: This story has been updated with information about the number of Kansas City-area workers terminated. Union officials say reports that as many as 1,000 workers were terminated Thursday were not correct, though an exact figure remains unknown.
Union officials say roughly 100 Internal Revenue Service employees in the Kansas City-area are part of federal workforce cuts that are ongoing this week.
Union representatives told KSHB 41 News that employees started meeting with their managers Thursday morning. The representative said employees were being asked to turn in their equipment and then escorted out.
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D - 5th District, Missouri), who earlier Thursday afternoon cited nearly 1,000 workers being impacted, called the layoffs "reckless."
"This shockingly shortsighted decision to let go hundreds of committed public servants will not only leave these patriotic Americans hanging out to dry, but it will undermine essential services that Missourians rely on in the middle of tax season, while creating a cascading negative impact on our region's economy," Cleaver said. 'I condemn this sinful decision to terminate the employment of nearly 1,000 hardworking Kansas Citians for no other reason than gluttonous greed."
According to a post on Thursday afternoon on a local IRS union social media page, the exact number of employees terminated Thursday was unclear.
"We do not have a final number at this time, but too many IRS workers were walked out of our building today, far too many," the post from the National Treasury Employee's Union, Chapter 66, read.
NTEU Local 66 vice president Daniel Scharpenburg told KSHB 41 News reporter Charlie Keegan that the union believes media attention and work from Congress "lessened the blow of what could have been a lot worse."
Cleaver will host a Tele-Town Hall with local community health center leaders and immigration attorneys to discuss President Trump’s executive orders on Thursday starting at 6:30 p.m.
You can join the call by dialing 855-927-0892 or listen to the discussion online here.
UPDATE: I’m learning this am as IRS workers are back in the office, some are meeting with managers, being asked to turn in their equipment and being escorted out.
— Caroline Hogan KSHB (@CarolineHoganTV) February 20, 2025
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Thursday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R - 4th District, Missouri) released a statement to KSHB 41 News on the cuts, saying "reasonable reductions to the IRS' payroll are a commonsense first step" of what he says was misguided policy from the previous administration.
Alford said he believes Republican economic policies will create more jobs that laid-off IRS workers will be able to apply for.
"We will continue working with the Trump Administration - including through my new role on the Appropriations Committee - to ensure Missourians have a seat at the table as these important decisions are made," Alford said in the statement.
Reports of potential layoffs at the Kansas City IRS facility surfaced earlier this week following a social media post by Shannon Ellis, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, Chapter 66.
Ellis’ original post indicated the layoffs would target probationary employees or those who had been in their current position for less than two years.
Ellis provided an update Wednesday night with additional details on which employees might be impacted.
She gave further updates on social media Thursday afternoon, saying that some employees are sitting in front of their computers and still waiting on their termination emails.
Ellis also said some employees would possibly get their termination letters in the mail if they were already on a list.
While Ellis doesn’t know what the timeline looks like regarding these layoffs, she stressed the need for workers to print their information ASAP.
KSHB 41 News heard the voices of workers and other businesses in the area who were closely monitoring the potential layoffs.
These layoffs are part of President Trump's plan to downsize the federal workforce. Layoffs have already happened at other federal organizations like the National Parks Department, Agency for International Development and Department of Veteran's Affairs.
This announcement could be the first of many potential layoffs. IRS employee Tiere Hobby-McNeal said she's scared.
"Definitely scary, especially when you know this is your life, this is your livelihood," Hobby-McNeal said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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