The Internal Revenue Service is facing criticism over a mass email it sent praising President Donald Trump's tax cuts, with a report by The Washington Post noting that the message closely resembles one the Social Security Administration sent in the closing days of October.

"Hardworking Americans like you are keeping more of what they earn because of President Trump's historic tax cuts," IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano wrote in the email, which was reviewed by The Washington Post.

The message touted "a new era of tax relief," describing how millions of eligible Americans benefited from the Working Families Tax Cuts, including tax breaks for senior citizens and workers who earn overtime pay. The Working Families Tax Cuts, signed into law by Trump in 2025, is a sweeping federal tax law intended to extend existing tax cuts, reduce taxes for individuals and businesses, and provide targeted financial relief to certain groups of taxpayers.

The email also acknowledged its own rarity, noting that the IRS "does not generally send e-mails to taxpayers" and that the message was "for informational purposes and does not constitute a communication about a taxpayer's specific situation." That caveat reflects the agency's long-standing public guidance, which advises that the IRS generally contacts taxpayers by U.S. mail first and does not initiate contact by email, text message, or social media to request personal or financial information — a policy meant to help recipients recognize scams and distinguish genuine IRS correspondence.

The Social Security Administration's email, which went to individuals with online Social Security accounts, said that under Trump the agency was "transforming into a model of excellence." It was sent under the name of Frank J. Bisignano, who holds dual roles as IRS chief executive and Social Security Administration commissioner.

Some recipients have expressed outrage over the messages, criticizing what they view as overtly political messaging from federal agencies that are traditionally expected to remain nonpartisan. According to The Hill, the emails may violate the Hatch Act. Enacted in 1939, the Hatch Act is a federal law that restricts the partisan political activities of federal executive branch employees and certain state, local, and District of Columbia government employees whose positions are connected to federally funded programs. The statute is enforced by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency, and is designed to ensure that federal programs are administered fairly and impartially and to protect employees from political coercion in the workplace.

Kathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis, told The Times that the email appeared to be "propaganda." Per NewsNation, The Hill's broadcast partner, watchdog groups have identified at least nine of Trump's 16 Cabinet members who may have violated the law in the lead-up to the midterm elections.

Several media outlets have sought comment from the Social Security Administration and the IRS, but neither agency has responded to the requests. With the reports landing ahead of the midterm elections and neither agency commenting, it remains unclear how the two messages were drafted and sent, and whether the concerns raised in the reporting will lead to any formal review.