Trump and Musk Slash Federal Workforce in Sweeping Government Overhaul

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Thousands of federal employees were abruptly fired this past week as the Trump administration launched a sweeping government downsizing effort, igniting fears of disruptions to public services and warnings from workers about gaps in veterans' mental health care and rural electric service.

The mass dismissals mark the first wave of cuts under the newly empowered Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which has been tasked with carrying out "large-scale" workforce reductions across federal agencies.

President Trump’s executive order, titled Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative, directs agencies to coordinate with DOGE and appoint “DOGE Team Leads” to oversee hiring and workforce decisions. The administration cast the move as a bold effort to streamline government and slash bureaucracy, though critics, including Democratic lawmakers, fear the aggressive cuts could weaken government operations and jeopardize national security.

“Our government has become bloated, wasteful, and detached from the American people,” the order reads. “By eliminating waste, bloat, and insularity, my administration will empower American families, workers, taxpayers, and our system of government itself.”

Under the directive, federal agencies must prepare for deep reductions in force while complying with federal law. A government-wide hiring freeze is already in effect, allowing agencies to hire just one new employee for every four who leave, with few exceptions.

The cuts began Thursday, hitting agencies such as the Office of Personnel Management, the Education Department, and the Small Business Administration, where dozens of employees were let go. By Friday morning, the pace of firings had intensified, triggering confusion within departments and raising concerns about the long-term impact on federal services.

The sweeping order comes as the administration grapples with mounting legal challenges, including lawsuits accusing DOGE of violating privacy laws. Nonetheless, Trump officials insist the cuts are necessary to rein in what they describe as an inefficient and bloated federal workforce.