The IRS plans to cut as many as 20,000 staffers as part of layoffs that began Friday. That's according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

The agency said it would eliminate its Office of Civil Rights and Compliance, firing roughly 130 employees from a division responsible for protecting taxpayers from discrimination in the tax code, audits and investigations.

The Internal Revenue Services (IRS) terminated staff members in the Office of Civil Rights and Compliance on Friday ahead of a larger slated reduction in force according to multiple reports. IRS