evidence: The myth of 87,000 armed IRS agents [...] He added that the hiring data should dissolve what he called "any lingering myths about a supersized IRS." After the IRA passed, some Republican lawmakers warned in 2022 that the agency would use the money to hire "87,000 new IRS agents to audit Walmart shoppers." "This should put to rest any misconception about us bringing on 87,000 agents," Werfel noted, adding that many of the new hires are replacing retiring employees.