After you file

This might sound like a stupid question/statement but,  why were the IRS employees being sent home? Aren't they essential workers? Bank employees were still working. There are a few million people depending on the progress of their work and their ability to review our taxes and refunds, and help us with our money.  If they were sending them home, why couldn't the IRS figure  out a way to review refunds at home manually? And why aren't they back at work still?