President Donald Trump has called on the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk, to be “more aggressive.”
As head of DOGE, Musk has swiftly implemented a series of spending cuts across various federal departments, leading to mass lays offs.
Why It Matters
DOGE’s aggressive cost-cutting measures are poised to reshape numerous facets of the federal government. Proponents argue these cuts are necessary to eliminate waste and reduce the federal deficit, while critics warn that they could undermine critical services and functions.
The debate highlights the broader tensions in U.S. politics over the size and role of government, making this an essential issue with far-reaching implications.
Alex Brandon/AP
What To Know
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Musk was “doing a great job” at DOGE, but he added that he would like to see the billionaire be “more aggressive” in his approach.
Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has fired over 200,000 federal workers since January, and about 75,000 probationary federal employees have accepted buyout plans known as “deferred resignations,” per the Office of Personnel Management.
The affected departments include the Department of Education, the Small Business Administration, the U.S. General Services Administration, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Department of Justice (DOJ), among others.
The plan to dismiss probationary workers has been in motion since Inauguration Day, when the acting head of the Office of Personnel Management issued a memo directing all agencies to compile and submit a list of their probationary employees. The January 20 directive emphasized that these workers could be more easily terminated.
That same day, Trump signed an executive order reclassifying thousands of federal employees as political hires, reviving “Schedule F,” a policy from his first term that removes civil service protections and makes it easier to fire career employees.
USAID has faced the most drastic cuts at $6.5 billion, according to receipts on DOGE’s official website.The agency is listed first on DOGE’s list of the top ten total contract savings as well as for contract savings as a percentage of the budget. It comes after the administration sought to fire over 2,700 USAID workers and recall most stationed abroad. However, a federal judge blocked the move with a temporary restraining order, and Democrats argue dismantling USAID requires congressional approval.
The Department of Education is listed as the second-highest in total contract savings at $502 million in savings, per DOGE receipts. Trump is reportedly preparing an executive order to eliminate the department, delivering on one of his key campaign promises. Trump cannot unilaterally abolish a federal agency without the approval of Congress.
The Trump adminstration is also set to make cuts at the Department of Defense. In an announcement, the department said it would cut its civilian workforce by at least 5 percent starting next week and implement a hiring freeze. The Defense Department, the largest government agency, had over 700,000 full-time civilian employees as of 2023, according to the Government Accountability Office. Uniformed military personnel will be exempt from the cuts.
“We anticipate reducing the Department’s civilian workforce by 5-8 percent to produce efficiencies and refocus the Department on the President’s priorities and restoring readiness in the force,” said acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Darin Selnick in a statement.
DOGE announced on its website that it has achieved $55 billion in federal savings since January. But the published receipts add up to roughly $16.5 billion, while NPR estimated that the overall projected savings may amount to as little as $2 billion. Over a third of the contracts listed on the DOGE website would not result in any financial savings if terminated, NPR reported.
What People Are Saying
Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social: “ELON IS DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE. REMEMBER, WE HAVE A COUNTRY TO SAVE, BUT ULTIMATELY, TO MAKE GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE. MAGA!”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen how Musk will respond to Trump’s remarks. So far, DOGE’s moves to cut the federal workforce have faced dozens of legal challenges.
However, a federal judge ruled on Thursday that the Trump administration can for now continue its mass firings.
