Trump to sign order instructing DOGE to massively cut federal workforce
Democrats have taken aim at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its proposed cuts to government spending. President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order instructing DOGE to coordinate with federal agencies and execute massive cuts in federal government staffing numbers. This order will significantly shrink the size of the federal government and limit the hiring of new employees, with agencies not being allowed to hire more than one employee for every four that leave their federal post.
DOGE Chair Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, stated that the American people voted for major government reform, and the Trump administration is committed to delivering on that promise. Trump echoed these sentiments, expressing a desire to tackle the “horrible stuff going on” and hoping that the court system would cooperate with the administration’s plans.
The executive order builds on a federal hiring freeze implemented by Trump after his inauguration and an initiative from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offering buyouts to federal civilian employees. However, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration’s plan following challenges from union groups.
The order will spare only a few areas of the federal government, including positions related to law enforcement, national security, and immigration enforcement. DOGE’s primary focus is on eliminating wasteful government spending and streamlining operations, with a goal of cutting $2 trillion from the federal government budget.
Despite approximately 65,000 federal employees accepting the buyout offer, a federal judge has extended a temporary restraining order on the deadline for submitting resignations. This pause comes as the judge evaluates a preliminary injunction request from union groups opposing the buyout program.
In addition to the buyout program, DOGE has also initiated efforts to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development, citing concerns about wasteful spending, poor leadership, and questionable funding. Trump has criticized the agency, accusing it of being run by “radical lunatics” and providing funding to extremist groups.
Overall, the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government have faced pushback from Democrats and union groups. The future of these initiatives remains uncertain as legal challenges continue to unfold.
