Federal agencies are experiencing significant workforce reductions as the Trump administration continues its push for downsizing. Thousands of government employees across the country have received layoff notices, targeting those in probationary periods at agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Small Business Administration, and the US Forest Service. This comes in addition to the 75,000 employees who accepted the administration’s controversial deferred resignation offer.
The workforce reductions follow statements from Elon Musk, who chairs Trump’s “department of government efficiency.” Musk has expressed intentions to “delete entire agencies,” aligning with the administration’s efforts to shrink the federal government. Federal worker unions have filed lawsuits against these actions, arguing that the aggressive downsizing threatens essential programs Americans rely on.
Meanwhile, President Trump will sign executive orders at 1 p.m. today before heading to Mar-a-Lago for the weekend. He frequently invites the press to witness these signings in the Oval Office.
The deferred resignation program, a buyout initiative offering federal workers full pay until September 30 if they agreed to resign, officially ended. The deferred resignation program faced legal challenges but was cleared on Wednesday when a federal judge lifted the pause on its implementation. The White House reported that approximately 75,000 employees opted in, a number lower than the administration’s initial target of 5-10% of the total federal workforce. Trump, dissatisfied with the results, has made it clear that additional measures will be taken to reduce government employment.
On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order mandating that non-essential government functions be prioritized for downsizing. The order also imposes strict hiring restrictions, permitting only one new hire for every four employees who leave, except in cases related to public safety. Additionally, new hires will require approval from a representative of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), increasing the influence of Elon Musk’s advisory team, which Trump has praised for its cost-cutting efforts.
Remote Work Under Fire as Office Leases Are Terminated
Trump has frequently criticized federal employees who prefer remote work, even as his administration moves to cut down on office space. The government has been actively terminating worksite leases, signaling a shift away from large-scale federal office operations.
“Nobody is gonna work from home,” Trump stated Monday. “They are gonna be going out, they’re gonna play tennis, they’re gonna play golf, they’re gonna do a lot of things. They’re not working.”
Future of the Federal Workforce
With the deferred resignation program now concluded, federal employees face an uncertain future. Trump’s administration appears committed to aggressive workforce reductions, further restructuring, and strict oversight of new hiring.
