IRS delays COVID-19 payments due to Trump's signature request

Documents obtained by HuffPost reveal that the IRS faced significant delays in issuing COVID-19 stimulus payments due to former President Donald Trump's demand to include his signature on the checks. This request disrupted the agency's operations and caused confusion among staff. Initially, the IRS had planned to send out notices without Trump's name. However, after pressure from the White House, they had to change their approach, resulting in a letter that lacked essential information for recipients. The last-minute changes led to technical issues and increased costs. IRS employees expressed concerns about the legality and ethics of branding the payments with Trump's name. Despite these worries, the Office of Legal Counsel concluded that including his name did not violate federal law. The agency ultimately missed key deadlines, leading to additional expenses.