Trump orders "large-scale" cuts to federal workforce, gives DOGE more power
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DOGE leader Elon Musk, his son X Æ A-Xii and President Trump as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump signed an executive order Tuesday requiring federal agencies to work with the Elon Musk-led DOGE to make "large-scale" workforce reductions.
Why it matters: The order that's titled "Implementing The President's 'Department of Government Efficiency' Workforce Optimization Initiative" gives DOGE even more powers, just as the Trump administration faces several lawsuits accusing it of violating privacy laws.
- The order requires a "DOGE Team Lead" to be stationed at every government agency, who will oversee hiring decisions.
Driving the news: The purpose of the action is to "restore accountability to the American public" and start "a critical transformation of the Federal bureaucracy," per the order.
- "By eliminating waste, bloat, and insularity, my Administration will empower American families, workers, taxpayers, and our system of Government itself."
- Agency heads will be required to "promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force," consistent with applicable laws.
- After a federal hiring freeze, the order says the administration would "require that each agency hire no more than one employee for every four employees that depart" from federal government, with certain exemptions.
Zoom out: In addition to the lawsuits, Democratic lawmakers are raising concern about the security implications of DOGE 's potentially unsanctioned access to sensitive government databases.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has described DOGE as "an unelected shadow government is conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government."
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who rallied with union leaders and other Democrats at a "Save the Civil Service" protest on Tuesday, has said he's launching a task force to combat the Trump administration's efforts to upend the federal government.
What they're saying: Trump said at the Oval Office with Musk on Tuesday that DOGE had found "billions and billions of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse," though neither he nor the Tesla and SpaceX owner outlined details of these findings.
- Musk told reporters DOGE's action was "not draconian or radical" and said he fully expected to be scrutinized.
- "The people voted for major government reform and that's what the people are going to get," he said. "That's what democracy is all about," he said.
- "We are moving fast, so we will make mistakes, but we'll also fix the mistakes very quickly."
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