A group of Republican Senators have introduced legislation that would prevent the Internal Revenue Service from rehiring federal employees who were fired for poor conduct and performance.
Known as the Ensuring Integrity in the IRS Workforce Act of 2016 (S. 2439), the bill is being introduced by Richard Burr (R-NC), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Dean Heller (R-NV) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) in response to evidence found by a Treasury audit showing the IRS has repeatedly rehired employees who were fired for poor conduct and performance after a lengthy examination process. The watchdog’s report even found that an employee who had “Do Not Rehire” stamped on their personnel file was rehired.
“IRS employees who were fired for serious offenses and gross misconduct like fraud, falsification of documents, and unauthorized access to taxpayer information shouldn’t be allowed back in the agency at all,” said Burr. “This is insulting to the American people and the employees who do serve honorably, and simply gives bad actors a chance to bilk the taxpayers a second time. Even an individual with ‘DO NOT REHIRE’ stamped on their files was mistakenly hired again. This practice must end now. It is the definition of insanity.”
Similar legislation was introduced in the House last year (H.R. 3724) by Reps. Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Peter Roskam (R-IL). It has yet to advance.
Burr was also one of the Senators behind legislation that was introduced to give the IRS Commissioner new authority to fire senior executives within the agency who have failed in their performance or committed misconduct. (See Legislation Would Make it Easier to Fire Senior Executives at IRS)