WASHINGTON, (February 12, 2025) – President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday, directing U.S. government agencies to collaborate with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to identify employees for layoffs and eliminate certain government functions entirely. The move is part of a broader effort to shrink the federal workforce and align it with Trump’s policy goals.
Musk, standing alongside Trump in the Oval Office at the White House while wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap, defended his unprecedented role in the administration’s downsizing efforts. He emphasized the need for a responsive government and dismissed concerns about secrecy surrounding DOGE’s operations. The order mandates that agencies hire no more than one new employee for every four departures while exempting personnel in national security, law enforcement, and immigration enforcement roles.
This initiative follows previous attempts to offer buyouts to federal employees, which were blocked by a federal judge. With roughly 2.3 million civilian employees in the U.S. government, excluding the Postal Service, the proposed layoffs could have significant implications for sectors such as veterans’ healthcare and agriculture inspection.
Musk pledged to find $1 trillion in savings by targeting waste and fraud, though critics argue his involvement poses conflicts of interest due to his leadership of SpaceX, which holds major government contracts. Trump dismissed these concerns, stating that necessary safeguards are in place.
Legal challenges have already delayed elements of Trump’s plan, including Musk’s access to sensitive Treasury payment systems. In response, Musk took to his social media platform X to criticize law firms and judges blocking the administration’s efforts, echoing Trump’s frustration over judicial opposition.
As resistance mounts, the administration may face further legal and political battles over its aggressive push to restructure the federal workforce.
Source: Reuters
