‘Disappointing’ DOGE: Federal workforce shrinking by just 1% shows bureaucracy’s entrenchment, experts say

Data released by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has shown that the federal workforce has decreased by just 1% over the first few months of President Donald Trump’s second term. This decline of more than 23,000 positions is seen as a reflection of the administration’s efforts to streamline government and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy.

Alex Nowrasteh, Vice President for Economic and Social Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, expressed disappointment in the size of the decrease in the federal workforce, stating that it is not enough. He attributed this lack of significant reduction to the inefficacy of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in achieving its objectives.

President Trump signed an executive order in February directing DOGE to coordinate with federal agencies to execute massive cuts in federal government staffing numbers. This order has resulted in agencies reducing their average monthly hires from 23,000 to just 7,385 once the hiring freeze was fully implemented.

Economist and business professor Peter Morici likened the impact of these cuts to pouring a few teacups of ice water into the ocean to combat rising temperatures. He emphasized the difficulty of eliminating positions without eliminating functions, highlighting the challenges in cutting down government departments.

David Hebert, an economist with the American Institute for Economic Research, acknowledged that the reduction in the federal workforce is a positive start but emphasized the need for the government to shed responsibilities that it should not have in the first place.

OPM has indicated that hundreds of thousands more workers will leave the federal workforce in October 2025 through the Deferred Resignation Program. Despite this progress, tens of thousands of employees who are in the process of being terminated remain on the government payroll due to court orders that are being challenged by the administration.

Acting OPM Director Charles Ezell emphasized the importance of creating a lean, efficient, and focused federal workforce that aligns with President Trump’s vision. The administration’s efforts to shrink the federal workforce have faced resistance from Democrats and various courts, with opponents arguing that critical jobs are being cut.

Overall, the data released by OPM highlights the ongoing efforts to streamline the federal government and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy. While progress has been made, challenges remain in achieving significant reductions in the federal workforce.