Happy New Year 2025

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IRS to slash thousands of workers off the payroll: report

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reportedly cutting thousands of probationary workers as tax season ramps up, according to The Associated Press.

The announcement comes just days after the Trump administration instructed agencies to fire most probationary workers who have not secured civil service protection.

The layoffs could potentially impact hundreds of thousands of people, although the exact number has not yet been confirmed, the AP reported.

The Associated Press reported thousands of IRS employees will be fired.

TRUMP SIGNS ORDER INSTRUCTING DOGE TO MASSIVELY CUT FEDERAL WORKFORCE

In addition to the probationary cuts, President Donald Trump announced on Jan. 29 that federal employees would be fired if they did not return to in-person work by early February.

A buyout offer, which has been extended, has already been accepted by about 65,000 employees.

The Associated Press reported IRS employees involved in the 2025 tax season, which began on Jan. 27, are not eligible for the buyout until after the taxpayer filing deadline, according to a letter sent recently to IRS employees.

The IRS said in January Americans have benefitted from increased funding. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

LAWMAKERS FROM STATE WITH MOST FEDERAL WORKERS PER CAPITA WARN AGAINST TRUMP BUYOUT BID

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is tasked with eliminating wasteful government spending and increasing efficiency, aims to cut $2 trillion from the federal government budget by eliminating programs and trimming the federal workforce.

In January, the IRS announced it was “working to continue the success of the 2023 and 2024 tax filing seasons made possible with additional resources.”

The Biden administration’s Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act devoted $80 billion to hire 87,000 new IRS agents, according to a September 2023 report from the House Oversight Committee.

The oversight committee claimed the funds were used to employ agents that specifically targeted middle-class Americans.

Former President Joe Biden provided $80 billion in additional funding to the IRS. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The past two filing seasons saw levels of service at roughly 85% and wait times averaging less than 5 minutes on the main phone lines, according to a statement from the IRS in January. There was also a significant increase in the number of taxpayers served at Taxpayer Assistance Centers nationwide.

“This has been a historic period of improvement for the IRS, and people will see additional tools and features to help them with filing their taxes this tax season,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel wrote in the statement. “These taxpayer-focused improvements we’ve done so far are important, but they are just the beginning of what the IRS needs to do. More can be done with continued investment in the nation’s tax system.”

The IRS expects to receive more than 140 million tax returns, according to the AP.

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The IRS and Department of Treasury did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, as of Saturday night.

Alexandra Koch is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Prior to joining Fox News, Alexandra covered breaking news, crime, religion, and the military in the southeast.

February 16, 2025
FBI uncovers thousands of undisclosed records connected to JFK’s assassination

The FBI has uncovered thousands of records connected to the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy as a result of President Donald Trump’s executive order to release the files.

Axios first reported that the FBI released 2,400 records tied to the Nov. 22, 1963, assassination of Kennedy, which were not provided to the board that reviewed and disclosed the files.

DEADLINE LOOMS FOR RELEASE OF JFK ASSASSINATION FILES

Trump signed an executive order Thursday aimed at declassifying government documents on the assassinations of President JFK, his brother and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. (Associated Press)

When the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) submitted its plan to release the JFK files, it reportedly disclosed the existence of the records.

Fox News has confirmed with a person familiar with the records that the files were uncovered during the review.

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The FBI did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment on the matter.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.

Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter @GregWehner.

February 10, 2025
PlayStation Network experiences significant outage, impacting hundreds of thousands of online users

Sony’s PlayStation Network (PSN) experienced a significant outage on Friday and Saturday, impacting hundreds of thousands of gamers across the world and frustrating users reliant on its online system.

PlayStation confirmed the outage in an X post on Friday evening. As of Saturday afternoon, users were still reporting network outages, and over 100,000 users have reported issues on Downdetector.com.

Reported issues include difficulty connecting to an online server, difficulty accessing the PlayStation online store and an inability to log in.

“We are aware some users might be currently experiencing issues with PSN,” the company’s post, which received 56,000 likes, read.

MICROSOFT TO BRING CALL OF DUTY TO NINTENDO IN 10-YEAR DEAL

The last major PlayStation outage took place in May 2011, when servers were down for a few weeks due to a security breach. Over 51,000 X users replied to the company’s latest update, with thousands of users in Europe and North America venting about the outage.

“Still down in California,” one X user said on Saturday.

“An update please? Been hours,” another wrote on Friday night.

“This is why ZERO games should need online status to play,” another wrote.

Other social media users expressed frustration about the cost of PlayStation Plus, which ranges from $80 to $160 a year and gives users access to online gameplay. The newest PlayStation console, the PlayStation 5 Pro, also retails for over $700.

MICROSOFT BID FOR ACTIVISION LIKELY TO BE BLOCKED BY FTC LAWSUIT: REPORT

“Imagine buying a PS5 Pro for $800 and you can’t even play it,” a commentator wrote.

“So is playstation going to refund people who paid for psn?” another said.

PlayStation has received scrutiny for its prices in the past. In 2023, a London tribunal ruled that Sony must face a $8 billion lawsuit over allegations that it charged “excessive prices” on the PlayStation Store.

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“This is the first step in ensuring consumers get back what they’re owed as a result of Sony breaking the law,” Alex Neill, a consumer advocate involved in the lawsuit, said at the time. “PlayStation gamers’ loyalty has been taken advantage of by Sony who have been charging them excessive prices for years.”

FOX Business reached out to PlayStation for comment.

February 8, 2025
Costco awarded execs hundreds of thousands in DEI related bonuses

‘The Big Money Show’ explores companies turning against DEI policies while Costco bucks the trend.

Costco doled out hundreds of thousands in bonuses to their CEO and top execs based on diversity, equity and inclusion and environmental metrics between the years of 2021-2024, a Fox News Digital analysis has found.

The grocery wholesaler giant paid CEO Ron Vachris a $93,333 bonus in 2024 based on achieving social and environmental objectives, which included “metrics concerning diversity, equity and inclusion, resource consumption, and other environmental-related areas,” according to their 2024 proxy statement. Other executives were offered $24,000 in bonuses related to achieving diversity, equity and inclusion metrics.

In 2023, then-CEO Craig Jelinek was awarded a $100,000 bonus for meeting environmental and DEI metrics, according to that year’s proxy statement. Other execs were awarded up to a $24,000 bonus for hitting DEI benchmarks. DEI-linked bonuses have been awarded every year since 2020, Costco proxy statements revealed.

WASHINGTON AG STANDS BY COSTCO, BLASTS REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS GENERAL THREATENING DEI CRACKDOWN

Costco has doled out bonuses on the basis of hitting DEI metrics, their proxy statements reveal.

The wholesale giant has been tight-lipped about their DEI policies, and Fox News Digital was unable to determine which specific metrics the bonuses were tied to. The company didn’t respond to a request for comment. However, Costco’s website sheds some light on the company’s DEI initiatives.

“The role of the company’s Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) is to support the advancement of inclusion at Costco, the growth of a diverse employee base, our relationships in the communities where we do business and an increase in our base of diverse suppliers,” according to the website.

FORMER COSTCO EXECUTIVE DEFENDS ITS DEI POLICIES, SAYS CRITICS DON’T UNDERSTAND THE COMPANY’S CULTURE

Al Sharpton staged a “buy in” to support Costco upholding DEI metrics. ((Photo by Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) / Getty Images)

Costco has managers and employees take a course in “inclusive conversations,” which the website lists as “10 modules of conversations to encourage leaders and employees to engage in inclusive conversations.” The program was launched in 2020, and as of 2024 new content was added to facilitate connections “across differences, manage assumptions and make people feel heard,” per the website.

The grocery chain also lists the demographics of its “Supervisor in Training” program, which is designed to help with the professional development of employees. According to their website, 57.3% of the 7,000 employees who participated in the training program identified as “People of Color.”

Waves of backlash and support have crashed on the wholesaler ever since the board overwhelmingly voted to reject a proposal challenging their DEI initiatives in January. Rev. Al Sharpton staged a “buy in” at the Costco location in Harlem to reward the company for sticking with DEI, but 19 states’ attorneys general have ordered the grocer to drop the controversial policies in order to conform with a Trump administration executive order.

A former Costco exec said DEI has always been the company’s culture. (Callaghan O’Hare/Bloomberg / Getty Images)

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Former Costco executive Roger Campbell pushed back on critics of the company, saying that DEI has always been part of their culture.

“The term DEI didn’t even exist to us, it was the way we ran our business… it’s who we are,” Campbell said.

February 7, 2025
Costco board members donated hundreds of thousands to Democrats in 2024 cycle

Storch Advisors CEO and former Toys”R”Us and Target executive Gerald Storch reacts to a strong November retail report and explains how industry winners are ‘value-based’ players.

Costco’s chairman of the board donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrats in the last election cycle, and multiple other board members heavily donated to Democrats as well, according to data from the Federal Elections Commission.

The grocery wholesaler is grappling with a public backlash after the board overwhelmingly came out in favor of the company’s controversial DEI policies.

Chairman of the Board Hamilton E. James gave $100,000 to the Harris Action Fund in May 2023. Hamilton, who was formerly with the Blackstone group, donated $150,000 to the Harris Victory Fund in Oct. 2024, FEC data reveals.

The Costco chairman donated $250,000 to the Senate Majority PAC, a political action committee dedicated to electing Democrats to the Senate, and gave $100,000 to the House Majority Pac, which works to elect Democratic candidates to the House of Representatives, between Sept. and Oct. 2024.

COSTCO BOARD MEMBER DEFENDS DEI PRACTICES, REBUKES COMPANIES SCRAPPING POLICIES

Costco board members donated heavily to Democrats in the 2023-24 election cycle. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Hamilton, 73, donated $41,000 to the PAC for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called the Jeffries Victory Fund in Sept. 2024, among numerous other Democratic PACs, federal data reveals, and made donations to numerous state Democratic parties and committees.

Costco board member and former CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Jeff Raikes, appears to be one of the more prolific donors among the board, giving over $400,000 to Democratic candidates and causes in the last two years. On October 28, 2024, Raikes gave $25,000 to the Harris Victory Fund, just days before the presidential election. A month earlier, he gave $25,000 to the House Majority PAC.

Costco board member Kenneth Denman made numerous donations to left-wing candidates and groups as well. In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, Denman made two $2,500 donations to Harris for President in one week, on Oct. 20 and Oct. 26.

Sally Jewell, who has sat on Costco’s board since 2020 and served in the Obama administration as secretary of the interior, made 49 contributions in support of Democratic candidates between January 2023 and December 2024. She gave thousands to groups supporting the campaigns of Democrats across the country, including former Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey and former Montana Sen. Jon Tester.

Director Helena Buonanno Foulkes gave $3,300 to Harris for President and $3,500 to the Harris Victory Fund in August, and donated in support of Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tammy Baldwin, and Bob Casey. Foulkes is the niece of former Democratic Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd, and she made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for governor of Rhode Island in 2022.

Of the Costco board members that Fox News Digital could independently verify, only John Stanton gave to Republican-aligned PACs. Stanton donated to PACs supporting Republican Sens. John Thune of South Dakota and Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, and he also contributed to Michigan Rep. John James. He also donated to a Washington Democrat, Rep. Adam Smith, last cycle.

None of the other board members appeared to have donated to Republicans or right-wing PACs. According to their website, Costco’s board currently consists of 11 members. The remaining members did not appear to make individual political donations in the 2024 cycle, or could not be verified to have done so, according to the FEC’s website.

COSTCO SHAREHOLDERS REJECT ANTI-DEI MEASURE

Costco board member Jeff Raikes has been an outspoken advocate for DEI. (Getty Images)

The significant left-wing political contributions among Costco’s board members come in light of a raging controversy over the wholesale grocer’s DEI policies. Nineteen state attorneys general urged the grocery wholesaler to drop DEI on Monday in light of President Donald Trump’s executive orders purging it from the federal government.

Raikes has been an outspoken supporter of DEI. In November 2024 he wrote, “Attacks on DEI aren’t just bad for business—they hurt our economy. A diverse workforce drives innovation, expands markets, and fuels growth. Let’s focus on building a future where all talent thrives,” in a post on X.

Larry Ellison, Executive Charmain Oracle listens to US President Donald Trump speak in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on January 21, 2025, in Washington, DC. (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Denman frequently reposts criticisms of Trump and praise for Democrats on his X and Bluesky accounts.

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The company’s founder, James Sinegal, who retired from his executive position in 2012, was a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party. He spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2012 as a backer of President Barack Obama.

Fox News Digital reached out to the board members who donated in the 2024 election cycle and have yet to receive a response. Jewell, James, Stanton was unable to be reached.

January 29, 2025
Ravens fans return kind gesture, donate thousands to Dalton Kincaid charity after crucial drop in Bills’ loss

Buffalo Bills fans rallied around Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews after his critical drop during the AFC divisional round ended the team’s hopes of reaching the Super Bowl. Now Baltimore fans are returning that support.

Last week, a GoFundMe campaign was created to support Andrews’ charity, Breakthrough T1D, which is aimed at supporting children with diabetes. The campaign raised over $140,000 through more than 4,000 donations.

Mark Andrews #89 of the Baltimore Ravens drops a pass on a two-point conversion during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

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Bills fans donated to the cause and shared messages on the campaign voicing their support for Andrews.

“Donated from Bills Mafia, we’ve been there. Keep your head up, you’re an amazing player and you caught so many to get your team to get close in this game. Move on and continue to do all your good works,” one message of support read.

But after the Bills’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, Buffalo tight end Dalton Kincaid found himself in a similar situation.

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, right, breaks up a pass intended for Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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On fourth down with the Bills trailing by three late in the fourth quarter, Josh Allen, who was under pressure by the Chiefs defense, threw a pass into the air. Kincaid was right there, but the pass fell through his hands, effectively ending Buffalo’s playoff run.

Likely facing similar criticism, Ravens fans saw the opportunity to return the favor.

“As many of you know, Bills TE Dalton Kincaid made a phenomenal attempt to catch Josh Allens last pass of the season but couldn’t haul it in, upsetting a lot of Bills fans,” a GoFundMe campaign created this week read.

BILLS FANS START GOFUNDME TO DONATE TO MARK ANDREWS’ CHARITY AFTER CRUCIAL DROP

“We want Ravens flock to donate to Summit Center for autism, the charity Dalton works with and try and return the favor Bills mafia did for us and Mark Andrews. Let’s raise what we can, please repost!”

Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

As of Tuesday, more than 400 donations have been made totaling over $13,000.

Kincaid has supported the Summit Center before through the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” initiative this past season.

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January 28, 2025
Taxpayers leaving thousands of dollars on the table at tax time: expert

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, unpacks the tax code and tariffs proposal under President-elect Donald Trump on Kudlow.

Tax season officially begins Monday when the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will begin accepting returns for the 2024 tax year, but taxpayers should be aware of deductions and credits that could be worth thousands before they file, a tax expert warns.

Karla Dennis, CEO and founder of KDA, Inc., a tax strategy agency, told FOX Business that taxpayers run the risk of leaving upwards of $2,500 to $5,000 on the table due to a lack of awareness of certain tax credits and deductions that they may be eligible to claim and reduce the amount of taxes they’re on the hook for.

“Many taxpayers are leaving money on the table,” Dennis said. “I’ve been in the industry for 30-plus years and when I work with individuals taxes and talk with them, I realize they’re very unaware of a lot of the various tax credits that they can use to offset their tax liability.”

Various tax credits and deductions are available to taxpayers who’ve spent money on certain activities such as education, medical expenses, state and local taxes and more.

IRS ANNOUNCES START OF TAX SEASON – WHAT TO KNOW

Taxpayers should familiarize themselves with tax credits and deductions they may be eligible for prior to filing their tax return. (Michael Bocchieri/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“Many taxpayers are changing careers, they’re going back to school, they’re getting higher education, and they’re not familiar with the lifetime learning credit, the American opportunity credit, and these can help to reduce their overall tax liability,” Dennis said.

She added that the American opportunity credit can be refundable for up to $1,000 which can be helpful for people looking to pay for classes and other expenses while in school.

Dennis said that taxpayers should monitor their spending on healthcare activities over the course of the year because they can be eligible for the medical expense deduction if that spending exceeds 7.5% of their adjusted gross income. For example, based on an income of $50,000 the taxpayer can deduct expenses above $3,750.

IRS TO SEND UNCLAIMED TAX REBATES TO 1M AMERICANS

Tax credits and deductions can help taxpayers minimize their tax liability. (iStock / iStock)

“They need to take advantage of writing off their insurance premiums if they’re not pre-tax through an employer,” Dennis explained.

“There’s the long-term care premiums that are a write-off, in addition to the co-pay for going to the doctor, to the emergency room, to the office visit, the pharmaceutical payment you make to the pharmacy to get prescriptions filled,” she added. “Even driving to and from the doctor you can take the mileage as a write off.”

The state and local tax (SALT) deduction is available up to a cap of $10,000 for taxpayers who itemize their returns. Dennis said taxpayers claiming the deduction should make sure they’re aggregating their income taxes, property taxes and DMV fees.

IRS INCREASES 401(K), OTHER 2025 RETIREMENT PLAN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS

The IRS’ tax filing season for the 2024 tax year begins Monday, Jan. 27. (Photo by J. David Ake/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Dennis said that individual taxpayers should “be mindful and realize that taxes are all year from January to December” so they should consider talking to a tax advisor earlier in the year to plan ahead.

She recommends that taxpayers do what she calls her “12 by 12” in which they look at their expenses for each month of the year one at a time over the course of a 12-day period, which she believes helps taxpayers avoid feeling overwhelmed at the last minute and forgetting things that could’ve saved them money when they filed their taxes.

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Dennis added that taxpayers may benefit from pausing before filing their return once it’s ready to be filed so that they can think about something they may have forgotten so that they can add it before filing and avoid having to amend their return.

January 27, 2025