“How does this help the economy become great again, MAGA?” one author inquires. “I’m waiting…”
A report from The Washington Post on Thursday revealed a White House document that indicates U.S. officials are planning to slash 8-50% of personnel across various agencies as part of the initial stage of President Donald Trump and billionaire advisor Elon Musk’s strategy to significantly reduce federal bureaucracy. This revelation has sparked a new wave of criticism aimed at their Department of Government Efficiency.
The document details staffing cuts across 22 agencies, and sources familiar with the matter have told the Post that “planning remains fluid,” a notion supported by Harrison Fields, White House principal deputy press secretary, through an email communication.
“The Trump administration’s commitment to reducing the federal bureaucracy and eliminating inefficiency, fraud, and abuse is well-known. This document is an early draft and does not represent the final plans for workforce reductions,” Fields explained to the newspaper. “Announcements regarding these reductions will be made by the Cabinet secretaries to their respective departments when they are prepared to do so.”
When Trump entered office, the federal workforce consisted of approximately 2.3 million employees. The document, last updated on Tuesday, outlined potential job cuts including:
- 30% at the Department of Commerce;
- 50% at the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
- 25% at the Department of the Interior;
- 8% at the Department of Justice;
- 30% at the Department of the Treasury;
- 10% at the Environmental Protection Agency;
- 33% at the Internal Revenue Service;
- 43% at the Small Business Administration; and
- 28% at the National Science Foundation.
Some agencies, like the Education Department, have already publicized their staffing reductions, planning to halve their workforce. The document, however, does not include these figures in its totals and also omits specific reduction targets for certain departments like the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The operational chaos dubbed “DOGE-Manufactured” by Trump and Musk is already affecting federal employees and the American public who depend on their services. The Social Security Administration, which is looking to reduce its staff by about 7,000, bringing the total down to 50,000, is currently experiencing issues with its website and extended wait times for telephone services.
In response to the Post‘s report, writer and podcaster Wajahat Ali took to social media to critique, “How does this help the economy become great again, MAGA? I’ll wait…”
Brian Donlon, former head of programming at Scripps News, connected the impending job cuts to Project 2025, a strategy by the Heritage Foundation aimed at a conservative shift in federal governance, which Trump attempted to distance himself from during his campaign. “I’ve rewatched Trump’s campaign rallies,” he mentioned. “References to an austerity budget or reduced federal government are missing, but Project 2025 is mentioned. I’ll continue my research.”
Bluesky user J. Offir, a social psychology Ph.D., expressed concerns primarily about health, education, and the environment, noting widespread implications of these reductions. “The hell at agencies under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which is now led by conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is just beginning,” he said. Earlier that day, Kennedy announced a major restructure and a reduction of 20,000 jobs, including those who accepted the controversial “Fork in the Road” offer.
“Today’s announcement is alarming. There’s no way that HHS can continue to deliver essential services and research after losing a quarter of its staff between layoffs and early retirements,” stated Jennifer Jones, director at the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. She emphasized the critical roles of HHS staff in ensuring public health and overseeing vital programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
“Remember, these cuts are being implemented by someone known for promoting fringe theories and misinformation. This administration has shown incompetence and corruption, evident from their handling of the severe measles outbreak in Texas,” Jones added. “Secretary Kennedy describes these changes as ‘a painful period,’ disregarding the broader impact on the nation.”
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