The Trump administration has taken the next step in its effort to significantly reduce the federal workforce.
Agency leaders have been directed to begin preparations for large-scale layoffs, known as reductions in force (RIFs), following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
These efforts will be carried out in coordination with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), expanding Musk’s role in restructuring federal operations.
Executive Order Limits Hiring, Expands DOGE Oversight
Titled “Implementing The President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative,” the executive order imposes strict limits on hiring within federal agencies.
Departments will be required to closely coordinate with DOGE representatives when making staffing decisions. Once Trump’s hiring freeze is lifted, agencies will only be permitted to replace one out of every four departing employees, with hiring limited to the most critical positions.
Furthermore, agencies will be restricted from filling vacancies for career positions unless DOGE team leaders approve. Even then, final determinations will rest with department heads. Each agency’s DOGE leader will also be required to submit monthly hiring reports.
Widespread Concerns Among Federal Employees
The federal workforce—comprising approximately 2.4 million employees—has already been disrupted by Trump’s rapid, multi-faceted workforce reduction efforts, leaving many workers uncertain about their future in public service.
The administration has taken steps to dismantle certain initiatives and agencies, while Musk’s representatives have gained access to federal departments’ internal systems. However, multiple courts have temporarily blocked some of these actions.
Trump Administration
The expectation of widespread layoffs had already been signaled. Last week, the Trump administration announced that significant reductions would occur among federal employees who declined to accept the deferred resignation offer, which has been paused by a federal judge.
While over 65,000 employees have opted for the resignation offer, the White House had set a goal of achieving a 5% to 10% reduction in the federal workforce.
Targeted Reductions and Potential Agency Eliminations
The executive order prioritizes reductions in federal offices that Trump has actively targeted since returning to office. These include diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, as well as programs and operations suspended or closed by the administration.
Additionally, departments will conduct a review to determine whether certain divisions—or even entire agencies—should be eliminated or merged due to a lack of legally mandated functions, according to a White House fact sheet.
Notably, the order exempts public safety, immigration enforcement, and law enforcement from the reductions.
Recent Workforce Policy Changes
Over the past three weeks, Trump has issued several directives aimed at reshaping the federal workforce:
- Employees working in federal diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility offices have been placed on paid administrative leave.
- The administration moved to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), though a federal judge has temporarily blocked the plan.
- On Sunday, employees of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) were informed that the agency’s Washington, D.C., headquarters would be closed for the week, with staff instructed to work remotely.
With the executive order now in effect, the Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul the federal workforce continue to accelerate, amid legal challenges and strong opposition from affected employees.
