The Internal Revenue Service announced on Tuesday that it will do a security assessment of its facilities following increased threats from alt-right extremists and a burst of funding the agency is set to obtain.
The review at the tax collection agency is the first type of assessment for the group since the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, when an explosive device near an Oklahoma City federal building killed 168 people, the Washington Post first reported.
The IRS sent a letter to employees last Wednesday with IRS commissioner Charles Rettig writing that the agency would be assessing risk in each of the IRS’ 600 buildings and determine what additional safety measures were needed.
“We see what’s out there in terms of social media. Our workforce is concerned about their safety,” said Rettig to the Post in an interview on Tuesday. “The comments being made are extremely disrespectful to the agency, to the employees and to the country.”
Fears of violence against federal agencies have increased amid intense scrutiny from conservative politicians and extremists, especially following the 8 August raid of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property by FBI agents.
“The FBI and DHS [Department of Homeland Security] have observed an increase in violent threats posted on social media against federal officials and facilities, including a threat to place a so-called dirty bomb in front of FBI headquarters and issuing general calls for ‘civil war’ and ‘armed rebellion,’” read an internal intelligence memo.
On 11 August, an armed Ohio man who attempted to breach the FBI’s Cincinnati office was killed by law enforcement following an hour-long standoff.
The following Sunday, a man drove into a barricade near the US Capitol building in Washington DC. The man shot several rounds into the air and later shot himself to death after his vehicle ignited.
Comments demanding that the FBI be defunded and other criticisms have been have been criticized by fellow party members, including former vice-president Mike Pence.
“The Republican party is the party of law and order. Our party stands with the men and women who serve on the thin blue line at the federal, state and local level. And these attacks on the FBI must stop,” said Pence last week in New Hampshire.
