Editor’s note: The following statement is published by Public Citizen on April 16, 2025. Public Citizen is a member of the Coalition on Human Needs. Readers can learn more about their important work here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Trump administration reportedly plans to eliminate Direct File, the popular, new digital tax-filing tool from the IRS. Susan Harley, managing director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division, released the following statement:

“Add Direct File to the ever-growing list of popular, money-saving initiatives that have been slashed and burned by President Trump, co-president Musk, and their chainsaw wielding tech bros. Taking away a tool that saves millions of Americans money to boost the tax prep industry’s profits is another corrupt giveaway to Big Business. Taxpayers who used Direct File were overwhelmingly satisfied with it, despite repeated efforts by administration insiders to suffocate it from behind the scenes and fears stoked by IRS data sharing.

“Eliminating Direct File is almost literally taking money out of our pockets. Trump’s decision is a slap in the face to millions of hardworking people.”