President Donald Trump has signed an executive order on Tuesday that mandates federal agencies to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to significantly reduce their workforce and restrict future hiring. This move marks the most explicit indication of Trump's support for “large-scale” reductions in the federal workforce.
The executive order enhances the authority of billionaire Elon Musk’s DOGE, which is responsible for identifying government inefficiencies. The order appoints a “DOGE Team Lead” at each federal agency, granting them oversight over hiring decisions. This action underscores the administration's commitment to streamlining the workforce.
The directive instructs agency heads to recruit no more than one employee for every four who leave the federal government after the hiring freeze ends. Exceptions are made for roles related to public safety, immigration enforcement, or law enforcement. Additionally, agency leaders are directed to prepare for large-scale workforce reductions in accordance with the law.
Eliminating 25 percent of federal employees is projected to reduce the overall budget by about 1 percent. The news of this executive order was first reported by Semafor.
From the Oval Office, Trump announced, “We are going to be signing a very important deal today. It’s DOGE.” He claimed that the administration had identified “billions and billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse.” Beside him, Musk commented, “If the bureaucracy is in charge, then what meaning does democracy actually have?” He emphasized the need to align government operations with the will of the people.
Doreen Greenwald, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, stated that the executive order could severely impact government services essential to the American public. She highlighted the critical roles federal employees play in protecting the environment, public health, and national security.
The Tuesday directive builds on previous executive orders and memos aimed at reshaping the bureaucracy, which comprises 2.3 million civilian employees, into a more efficient entity. The DOGE has already been involved in dismantling certain U.S. agencies, displacing thousands of civil servants, and gaining access to sensitive government payment systems, which has sparked legal challenges.
Trump expressed frustration with judicial rulings that challenge his administration's efforts to eliminate government waste, stating that it was hard to believe judges would impede efforts to uncover corruption. However, he also affirmed his commitment to abide by court decisions and pursue appeals if necessary.
A federal judge recently halted the administration’s “deferred resignation program,” which offered federal employees the option to resign with pay through September amidst a legal challenge. Trump described the program as a beneficial deal for employees, aligning with his broader goal of reducing government size.
Trump remarked that federal office space is currently “occupied by 4 percent,” a figure that contradicts a report from the Office of Management and Budget indicating that eligible teleworking employees spend over 60 percent of their work hours on-site.
Report contributions by Jeff Stein and Lisa Rein.
