A top lawyer to the IRS commissioner warned agency leaders the email terminating probationary employees was “false” and threatened to notify the independent watchdog office. The head of HR also questioned it.
Despite these alarms, the IRS sent the February notice to thousands of workers firing them citing performance, setting off a court battle, a review from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the exit of the leaders who objected.
Traci DiMartini, the human capital officer, was put on administrative leave; Joe Rillotta, the commissioner’s counselor, took a deferred resignation plan; and acting commissioner Doug O’Donnell announced his ...