Wichita Standard

Reps. Ron Estes (R-Kansas), David Kustoff (R-Tennessee), and eight other members of the Ways and Means Committee have raised concerns about the telework policies at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In a letter addressed to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, the representatives expressed their worries about the impact of remote work on the IRS's ability to provide reliable service to taxpayers.

"The IRS has a duty to provide reliable service to hardworking American taxpayers who are trying to follow the rules by paying their taxes – if working remotely is the main obstacle blocking the delivery of that goal, something must change," stated Rep. Estes in the letter. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that the IRS telework policy does not hinder the agency's efficiency in serving taxpayers.

The letter, also signed by other Ways and Means Committee members, including David Schweikert (R-Arizona) and Michelle Steel (R-California), seeks clarification from Commissioner Werfel on the current telework policies in place at the IRS. The representatives are eager for the Commissioner to address their questions and make any necessary adjustments to improve the IRS's telework policy.

Rep. Estes highlighted a constituent's challenging experience in trying to contact the IRS during a Ways and Means Committee hearing in February. Commissioner Werfel acknowledged that IRS staffing was evenly split between in-person and remote work. Following this revelation, Rep. Estes further scrutinized the shortcomings of the IRS telework policy in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal.

"While Rep. Estes doesn’t consider telework to be inherently unproductive, the IRS has failed to deliver basic customer service and data security under its telework policy," the article stated, emphasizing the need for improvements in the IRS's remote work practices.

The full text of the letter to Commissioner Werfel can be accessed for further details on the concerns raised by Rep. Estes and his colleagues regarding the IRS telework policy.