President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk launched a sweeping effort to shrink the U.S. bureaucracy, leading to the termination of over 9,500 federal workers. Employees across the Departments of Interior, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services lost their jobs, primarily targeting probationary workers in their first year with limited employment protections.
In addition to these firings, nearly 75,000 employees accepted buyouts offered by the administration, reducing the civilian workforce by approximately 3%. The White House justifies the move by citing government bloat, waste, and a soaring $36 trillion national debt. While there is bipartisan agreement on the need for reform, congressional Democrats argue Trump is overstepping legislative authority on federal spending, though Republican majorities in both chambers largely support the cuts.
However, Musk’s aggressive approach has caused friction within the administration, with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles expressing concerns over the lack of coordination. The campaign has extended beyond job reductions, seeking to dismantle civil-service protections, freeze foreign aid, and close agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
The scope of cuts is vast. Nearly half of probationary workers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) are being dismissed. The U.S. Forest Service is letting go of approximately 3,400 recent hires, while the National Park Service is terminating 1,000 employees. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is preparing to lay off thousands, raising concerns about the agency’s ability to manage the upcoming April 15 tax deadline.
Further budget reductions have disrupted vital services. In wildfire-ravaged California, federal programs have stopped hiring seasonal firefighters and ceased removing fire hazards such as deadwood, exacerbating disaster risks. Critics question Musk’s forceful tactics, suggesting his approach prioritizes ideology over efficiency.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the initiative, likening it to a financial audit. “These are serious professionals conducting agency-by-agency assessments,” he told Fox Business Network. Musk has recruited young engineers with limited government experience to spearhead his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, with budget experts warning that cuts appear more politically motivated than fiscally driven.
Federal employees caught in the crossfire have voiced outrage. Nick Gioia, a veteran with 17 years in the Department of Defense before joining the USDA’s Economic Research Service in December, was abruptly fired. “I served my country, and now I feel betrayed,” said Gioia, who lives in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and supports a child with epilepsy. “This isn’t about efficiency—it’s a game.”
Steve Lenkart, executive director of the National Federation of Federal Employees, believes Musk and the Trump administration are primarily targeting agencies that regulate industry and finance. “This is about removing government oversight to benefit the ultra-rich,” he said.
Some job cuts have faced legal roadblocks. Layoffs at the Department of Energy (DOE), including 325 positions at the National Nuclear Security Administration, were partly rescinded to maintain nuclear security. Meanwhile, a court order temporarily halted further layoffs at the CFPB, granting employees a brief reprieve.
Unions representing federal workers have filed lawsuits to block the buyout plan. Three federal judges are deliberating whether Musk’s DOGE team should have access to Treasury Department systems and sensitive data at U.S. health, labor, and consumer protection agencies. In one case, a New York judge extended a restraining order preventing DOGE from accessing Treasury data, reflecting growing legal resistance to the administration’s aggressive downsizing efforts.
