The Trump administration is moving swiftly to downsize the federal workforce, directing agencies to finalize plans for mass firings by mid-March. A February 26 memo from top officials at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) instructs federal agencies to prepare large-scale reductions in force (RIF) and reorganization strategies.
This move is part of Trump’s broader effort to shrink the federal government, eliminate wasteful spending, and increase efficiency. The initiative, which has already affected nearly 100,000 federal employees, is being overseen by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new agency created to reduce government waste.
Trump’s Executive Order: Restructuring the Federal Workforce
On February 11, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at restructuring the government workforce. He called the federal system bloated and inefficient, stating that drastic changes were necessary to improve productivity and cut costs.
Key Directives from the Executive Order:
- Large-scale workforce reductions across multiple federal agencies
- Elimination of entire positions, departments, and possibly agencies
- Relocation of government functions to lower-cost areas
- Collaboration with DOGE to ensure effective implementation
Trump stated that these changes would benefit American taxpayers by eliminating unnecessary jobs and programs. The administration claims that previous governments wasted taxpayer money on “unproductive and unnecessary programs.”
Phase 1: Workforce Reductions by March 13
The February 26 memo requires agencies to submit their first phase of RIF plans by March 13. These plans will outline:
- The number of employees to be laid off
- Departments and roles that will be eliminated
- Strategies for reorganizing essential functions
The General Services Administration (GSA) has already begun notifying employees about impending job cuts. GSA assured workers that their departure would be handled “fairly and with dignity.”
Phase 2: Long-Term Downsizing by April 14
A second phase of the workforce reduction plan is due by April 14. This phase will focus on:
- Merging agencies and eliminating redundant offices
- Cutting non-essential functions not required by law
- Moving offices to lower-cost locations
- Ensuring the highest efficiency in necessary government operations
Once approved, these long-term restructuring efforts will be implemented by the end of September.
Departments Facing Major Cuts
Trump has already identified key agencies that will experience significant workforce reductions:
1. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Faces a 65% staff reduction
- The agency’s role will be re-evaluated
2. State Department
- Some cuts will be limited, as classified operations require certain personnel
- Other non-essential positions will be eliminated
3. Department of Education
- Might be entirely shut down
- Trump wants education policy controlled by individual states
Trump criticized the Department of Education for high spending but poor results compared to other developed countries.
Controversial Email to Federal Workers
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently sent a mass email to all federal employees, asking them to submit a bullet-point list of their accomplishments.
- Elon Musk stated that 1 million workers responded to the email.
- Those who failed to respond might face termination.
- A second email will be sent soon to track unresponsive employees.
Trump suggested that some non-responding employees “may not even exist”—implying that the government might be paying for ghost employees or inactive workers.
Total Job Losses and Projected Savings
Workforce Impact So Far
- 20,000 employees have been laid off
- 75,000 employees have taken deferred resignations
- Nearly 100,000 federal employees have been affected so far
Projected Government Savings
- $65 billion saved from workforce reductions, canceled contracts, and asset sales
- More savings expected as additional job cuts take effect
Elon Musk’s Vision for an Efficient Government
Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), stated that the goal is not to fire people unnecessarily but to eliminate unproductive roles.
“We wish to keep everyone who is doing a job that is essential and doing their job well,” Musk said. “But if the job is not essential, or they’re not doing it well, they obviously should not be on the public payroll.”
Despite legal challenges and criticisms, the administration remains firm on its plan to reduce government spending and bureaucracy.
