How DOGE Broke the IRS | Danny Werfel

The Internal Revenue Service may never be the government’s most popular agency, but it could have been the most efficient.

In 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which invested $80 billion to fix the Internal Revenue Service. In 2024, the agency rolled out features like Direct File, a new free filing service for taxpayers. But Elon Musk's DOGE had other plans, including mass firings and data sharing agreements with ICE. The result is new risks for taxpayers.

Host: Anne Kim, Washington Monthly

Guest: Danny Werfel, former IRS Commissioner

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Danny Werfel and IRS challenges

01:01 The importance of the IRS and public perception

02:04 The referee analogy and public trust

02:57 Modernization goals and digital interactions

05:30 Impact of current administration on the IRS

06:29 Performance before and after the Inflation Reduction Act

07:55 Reversal of modernization efforts in 2025

09:22 Lack of a clear modernization plan from the IRS

11:20 Recent IRS performance and taxpayer frustrations

12:21 Consequences of underfunding and staffing issues

16:39 The size and capacity of the IRS compared internationally

20:43 Doge's mistakes in IRS reform

23:05 Spending, capacity, and efficiency in government

27:08 Risks of rapid reform and the reflecting pool analogy

37:34 The concept and benefits of direct file

40:57 Challenges and opportunities in free file solutions

44:19 The future of IRS reform and innovation

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(80)

Why Autocracy Is Bad Business | Daniella Ballou-Aares

Businesses need democracy to thrive, argues Daniella Ballou-Aares, founder of the business coalition Leadership Now. They should step up to defend it. Host: Anne Kim, Washington MonthlyGuest: Daniella...

29 Juli 29min

Boot Camps and Marriage Payments? The Heritage Foundation's Troubling "Pro-Natalist" Agenda | Varina Winder

The ultra-right-wing Heritage Foundation blames "feminism" for falling fertility rates. Not surprisingly, its "solutions" are hostile to women.Host: Anne Kim, Washington MonthlyGuest: Varina Winder, C...

1 Juli 26min

The Myth of the "Independent Creator" | Matt Robison

Much like the economy at large, the system favors big players over independent creators.Online sensations like Mr. Beast—the YouTuber with nearly 500 million subscribers—have spurred countless imitato...

17 Juni 30min

Real Men Teach - We Need More of Them | Curtis Valentine

For several decades now, girls have been outperforming boysacademically. They earn higher grades, are less likely to drop out, and are significantly more likely to attend college. Women now earn thema...

3 Juni 34min

Can capitalism be saved? | Nick Hanauer and Eric Beinhocker

Billionaires are the apex predators of the modern economy. They tear up governments, buy politicians, and wreck the planet with carbon-spewing yachts. They control the news and what’s in our feeds. Th...

20 Maj 32min

Get ready for the AI crash | Asad Ramzanali

Risky financial maneuvers and mountains of debt mean the AI economy is in trouble, says Vanderbilt's Asad Ramzanali. America needs to get ready. Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington MonthlyGuest:...

6 Maj 32min

Trump’s Not-So-Great Health Care Plan | Edwin Park

President Donald Trump recently unveiled his “Great Healthcare Plan,” vowing to bring down soaring premiums and “fix” the Affordable Care Act. But Trump’s single-page plan is likely to fall far short ...

24 Mars 23min