Economic Security Project

Filing taxes should be free, easy, and secure. And this tax season, it will be for 32 million tax filers across 25 states thanks to IRS #DirectFile, which makes filing your taxes a whole lot easier and costs $0 to use! Why should we spend our hard-earned $$$ to file our taxes? The average American spends about $160 and 9 hours filing their taxes. Just think, that money could be used to pay your monthly utility bills, car payments, or an extra grocery trip. Visit https://lnkd.in/ee74rtS7 to see if you are eligible and start saving today!

If you’re looking for programs that transform lives and build toward a future where ALL of us can thrive, check out Equity And Transformation (EAT)'s Chicago Future Fund guaranteed income program. Designed by and for systems-impacted people, the program is flipping the narrative that justifies spending billions in tax dollars—the people’s money—on imprisonment when we can and should be investing in our communities. To Richard W. and the EAT team, congratulations on your powerful work and all the successes highlighted in your 2025 report. From all of us at Marguerite Casey Foundation, we’re honored to be in relationship with you and to fund your work.

An insightful conversation between?Natalie Foster?and?Ai-jen Poo?on how the low wages, job insecurity, and few protections domestic workers have long faced are now a reality for many workers across industries. Their fight offers key lessons on how we can turn the tide and build a better economy for all. ???? https://lnkd.in/dCiJy8E4

This isn’t about making the government more efficient. It’s about making it harder to rein in monopolies, especially Big Tech. Here’s why: The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice currently share responsibility for #antitrust enforcement, which allows them to cover more ground and bring different legal tools to the table. Stripping the FTC of its authority would significantly weaken enforcement efforts, making it easier for monopolies to avoid scrutiny. The FTC has broader and more flexible authority than the DOJ. This is especially relevant for going after anticompetitive practices in the digital economy that traditional antitrust laws weren’t designed to address. Take the FTC’s ongoing case against Facebook brought under Section 5 of the FTC Act. It’s a prime example of how the agency’s consumer protection and antitrust enforcement powers work together. In the complaint, the FTC argues that Facebook’s strategy of buying up rival social media platforms eliminated competition and severely limited choices for consumers who wanted better privacy options. Another important distinction between the FTC & DOJ? The FTC is an independent federal agency, while the DOJ is part of the executive branch. Shifting all antitrust powers to the DOJ risks making enforcement vulnerable to political interference. Is it any wonder Musk is backing this move? His motivations have little to do with government “efficiency.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gbnR2YDp

The work we do at Economic Security Project is powered by committed and passionate advocates who want to build an economy that works for all Americans. We are thrilled to announce new staff members who have recently joined us in this mission: ? Michael Konczal?is our first Senior Director of Policy & Research. He comes to us from the Biden-Harris White House, where he served as Special Assistant to the President and Chief Economist for the National Economic Council. Previously, he was a director at Roosevelt Institute, and he has published extensively on economic policy. ? Adriane Brown is our new Senior Communications Director. She served in the Biden-Harris Administration as Director of Public Affairs at the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Prior to that, Adriane worked with SKDK, Paramount Media Networks & MTV Entertainment Studios, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ? Tesbih Habbal Habbal is our new Communications Strategist. She has led strategic communications initiatives across policy, advocacy, business, and the nonprofit sector. These new team members will help us tell a story about who this economy works for and what we can do to help families thrive.?

IRS commissioners from both parties are sounding the alarm. Gutting the IRS isn't about efficiency—it's about making it easier for wealthy tax cheats to avoid paying their fair share and shift the burden to working families. "Aggressive reductions in the I.R.S.’s resources will only render our government less effective and less efficient in collecting the taxes Congress has imposed. It will shift the burden of funding the government from people who shirk their taxes to the honest people who pay them, and it will impede efforts by the I.R.S. to modernize customer service and simplify the tax filing process for everyone." ?? https://lnkd.in/eGzWQJQH

We’re Hiring! ? Love fundraising & relationship-building? ? Excellent communication skills? ? Passionate about economic justice? Join Economic Security Project as our new Associate Director, Major Gifts! Help us build an economy that works for everyone by supporting transformative policies like guaranteed income, expanded tax credits, and antimonopoly efforts. We’re looking for a strategic and dynamic fundraiser with a proven track record of securing major gifts, building relationships with donors, and aligning funding opportunities with our mission. Apply today!?https://lnkd.in/edaBZa7q

How will AI impact economic inequality? That is a question that will be decided by the choices we make in the next few years, explains ESP Executive Director Taylor Jo Isenberg. “We’re at a critical juncture. The next decade will determine whether we deliver on a vision of broad-based prosperity or further entrench economic and political power into the hands of a few.”

People have been asking me “isn’t Direct File deleted?” The answer: no. Direct File is up and running, and it’s saving people time and money. IRS #DirectFile is a free, simple, and secure way for Americans to file their taxes online. And users LOVE it! During last year’s pilot, 90% of users ranked their experience with the tool as “Excellent” or “Above Average.” Thanks to the hard work of the Internal Revenue Service and orgs like Code for America, Economic Security Project, Groundwork Collaborative, Public Citizen the program was expanded to half the country this tax season. Direct File is what economic security looks like in action. It’s a practical solution that makes the government work for people and puts money back in their pockets and time back in their days. But because it's free, Direct File threatens the business models of tax prep companies like TurboTax (Intuit) and H&R Block. That’s why those companies have spent tens of millions of dollars lobbying to get Direct File shut down. Thankfully, their efforts have failed, and Direct File is still up and running, thanks to the efforts of Merici Vinton and so many other public servants. But what about Elon? He and the DOGE team haven't built anything like Direct File, has he? Well, not yet. He has openly stated that he wants to build a tax filing system to circumnavigate the IRS (see link in comments for details). My read of the situation is that he doesn’t like that the IRS has solved this problem already… because now he can’t take credit for doing it himself. Causing chaos about Direct File isn't about government efficiency. It's about whether we believe in a government that builds products and institutions that serve the public. The team behind Direct File has already saved taxpayers millions by building better, more accessible government technology. Thankfully, despite Elon’s misleading statements, this vital program isn’t going anywhere – at least, not yet. Direct File is still online and ready to help Americans file their taxes for free. Right now, so many important programs ARE vulnerable or on the chopping block. Trump, Elon and this administration have shown there are no limits to taking away vital, lifesaving benefits for millions of Americans–Medicaid, Medicare, even parts of Social Security are on the chopping block-while billionaires and corporations get incredible tax cuts and gain a lax hands-off regulatory environment. At Economic Security Project, we’ll be fighting to protect and expand Direct File and the rest of the programs we rely on. In the meantime, know that you can file your taxes with Direct File (and spread the word) #economicsecurity #directfile #elon #musk #IRS #ESP

"IRS #DirectFile is a game changer for my life." Filing your taxes doesn’t have to be stressful. Learn how real people are using Direct File to easily file their taxes for FREE with just a few clicks online. See if you qualify at directfile.irs.gov