In a decisive step signaling his administration’s intent to overhaul the federal government, President Donald Trump has ordered all federal agencies to submit detailed plans for significant workforce reductions. The directive, issued early in his second term, aligns with promises made on the campaign trail to slash government spending and streamline operations.
Some details according to NBC News:
The Trump administration directed federal agencies on Wednesday to prepare for mass layoffs, according to the heads of the White House budget and personnel management offices.
Budget Director Russell Vought and Charles Ezell, the acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, wrote in a memo to the heads of these agencies that the federal government is “costly, inefficient, and deeply in debt.”
“At the same time, it is not producing results for the American public. Instead, tax dollars are being siphoned off to fund unproductive and unnecessary programs that benefit radical interest groups while hurting hardworking American citizens,” they said.
The memo notes that President Donald Trump has required “large-scale reductions in force” and in order to implement that, it calls on the heads of departments and agencies to submit the first phase of reorganization plans by March 13, which “shall focus on initial agency cuts and reductions.”
According to sources familiar with the executive action, Trump’s order mandates agency heads to identify positions for elimination, targeting what the administration calls “redundant” or “non-essential” roles. While specifics remain under wraps, the goal is clear: reduce the federal payroll and redirect resources to priorities like border security and tax relief. This comes as part of a broader agenda championed by Trump and his allies, including Elon Musk, whose influence via the newly minted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) looms large.
Musk said earlier today that cutting $1 trillion from the budget is not only necessary but doable over time. This would include not only cutting waste, fraud, and abuse but also downsizing the federal workforce:
Elon Musk saying a few words at the Trump Cabinet Meeting. Says we can save a Trillion Dollars off the federal budget. Roughly 15% pic.twitter.com/QINkRJOnBA
— FL-Native (@FL_Native21) February 26, 2025
Democrats, naturally, are framing this as an attack on the middle class, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowing to fight what he calls “reckless cuts.”
In reality, this is a long-overdue reckoning for a bloated bureaucracy. The Trump administration hasn’t released a target number of jobs to axe, but insiders hint it could reach into the tens of thousands, dwarfing previous efforts under past Republican presidents.
The various agencies have a tight deadline to comply which appears to be measured in weeks, not months. Once plans are submitted, expect a firestorm of hearings, leaks, and legal challenges.
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