DOGE ate my tax refund. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 15, 2025

PRESS CONTACT:
Sarah Harris, [email protected] 

Today is Tax Day – the magical time of year when millions of Americans scramble to get their taxes filed and dream of a refund big enough to cover bills, restock the fridge, or if you’re really lucky, pay for a vacation getaway.

But this year, things are looking a little different.

Elon Musk and his army of recent college grads at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been gutting critical government agencies from the Social Security Administration to Veterans Affairs.

Musk’s cuts at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have caused more chaos than savings. On February 20, DOGE laid off more than 6,000 IRS employees–many of them in customer service. This means fewer employees to process returns, answer questions, or explain why you suddenly owe $50 from two years ago. It means refunds will hit our bank accounts later than expected. Shockingly, Elon isn’t too concerned.

While everyday Americans are waiting for their refunds, the wealthiest Americans are quietly benefitting. The same DOGE layoffs that are delaying refunds for the rest of us also gutted the IRS’s capacity to audit high-income tax cheats. Many of the employees let go were probationary hires brought on under a Biden-era initiative to increase enforcement on wealthy taxpayers. These audits are complex—but they also pay off, returning up to $12 for every $1 spent.

Now, thanks to Musk’s cuts, the IRS has fewer trained staff to investigate billionaires with armies of lawyers and accountants. A starving IRS is a feast for the ultra-wealthy. 

Adding insult to injury, last week the House laid the groundwork for a second round of billionaire tax cuts – while everyday Americans watch their 401(k)s plummet and egg prices skyrocket.

Americans are not exactly applauding this reverse Robin Hood tax scheme. Since Trump’s inauguration, Stand Up America’s nearly two million members across the country have driven over 250,000 calls and emails to legislators opposing Trump and Musk’s agenda.

If you’re interested in learning more about Stand Up America’s work pushing back on the Trump and Musk agenda, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

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About Stand Up America
Stand Up America is a progressive advocacy organization with nearly two million community members across the country. Focused on grassroots advocacy to stand up to corruption and voter suppression and build a more representative democracy, Stand Up America has driven over 1.7 million calls to lawmakers, registered over 100,000 voters, mobilized thousands of protestors, and contacted tens of millions of voters.

Website: StandUpAmerica.com
Twitter: @StandUpAmerica
Instagram: @StandUp_America
Facebook: @StandUpAmerica