In a recent revelation, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a government agency spearheaded by Elon Musk, was confirmed to have been terminated. OPM Director Scott Kupor stated that DOGE’s functions were absorbed by the OPM after Musk’s departure last May. Despite Musk’s initial projections of saving the government a trillion dollars, DOGE ultimately reported savings of $214 billion, an amount that may be overstated. The agency faced criticism and legal challenges, ultimately leading to debates on its efficacy and the potential loss of valuable talent due to its practices.
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Previously distancing himself from the conservative policy plan Project 2025, President Trump has now announced he will meet with Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, a key figure in the plan, to discuss which “Democrat Agencies” to cut. This shift marks a departure from his prior disavowals of the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint, which proposes significant changes to the federal government, including cuts to the federal workforce and expanding executive powers. Despite Trump’s past claims of not knowing about Project 2025, his administration has already implemented several of its proposals. Now, in the midst of a government shutdown, Trump is further aligning his actions with Project 2025’s goals, with plans to cut funding and eliminate federal employees.
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In an effort to downsize the federal workforce, the Trump administration initiated layoffs and voluntary retirements, but many of these actions have been reversed. Agencies are now rehiring employees and ordering others back from leave to fill critical gaps in services. This backtracking highlights a loss of expertise and capacity within the government, which experts fear could lead to serious issues. Several departments, including Health and Human Services and the National Weather Service, have rehired numerous employees, driven by the need to maintain essential services, while the administration is still implementing its “reduction-in-force” plans.
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Following a controversial initial request for weekly work summaries from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), federal agencies, including DHS, Energy, and Treasury, sent similar emails instructing employees to submit five bullet points detailing their accomplishments. Unlike the first email, this iteration allowed employees handling sensitive information to opt out or state that their work was confidential. OPM advised agencies to independently manage the requests, granting them discretion over participation, which was part of a broader strategy to track employee work. This new directive follows President Trump’s efforts to streamline the federal government, which have faced legal challenges and widespread disruption.
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Trump’s attempt to replace the federal workforce with loyalists has backfired, proving a significant weakness. This action, intended to strengthen his administration, has instead generated widespread public disapproval and decreased confidence in various sectors, including air travel and the economy. The resulting public anxiety highlights the vital, often unseen, role of the civil service in maintaining daily life and national security. Ultimately, Trump’s early missteps present an unforeseen opportunity for his political opponents.
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Over 20 civil service employees resigned from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), citing ethical concerns and a lack of technical expertise among Musk’s appointees. These employees, primarily engineers and data scientists, asserted that DOGE’s actions threatened critical public services and jeopardized sensitive American data. Their mass resignation follows earlier layoffs, weakening the government’s technological infrastructure and raising concerns about the security of various federal systems. This action represents a significant setback to Musk and the Trump administration’s efforts to drastically reduce the federal workforce. The resignations highlight the conflict between Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting measures and the preservation of essential government services.
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Elon Musk, tasked with streamlining the federal workforce, initiated a controversial “pulse check” email campaign demanding weekly accomplishments from all federal employees under threat of termination. The initiative, quickly deemed “stupid” by some, was intended to assess employee responsiveness and capacity, according to Musk. However, the email sparked significant internal conflict, with agencies such as the FBI and Pentagon advising employees against responding, creating widespread confusion and division within the government. The Office of Personnel Management stated that agencies would determine further action based on employee responses.
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Elon Musk’s “deferred resignation” program, aimed at dismantling the federal workforce, has overwhelmingly failed due to low participation—less than 1% of federal employees accepted the offer. This scheme, orchestrated through Musk’s unauthorized Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), involves misleading promises of severance pay, legally questionable under current law. The program faces significant legal challenges, including a restraining order sought by the American Federation of Government Employees, and is projected to ultimately cost the government more in legal fees than savings. The attempt is particularly egregious given the high percentage of veterans employed in federal agencies and the lack of Congressional authorization for the payments.
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With President-elect Trump’s return, a chilling effect has settled over the federal workforce, many fearing a repeat of his first term’s attacks on civil servants. Trump has promised to reinstate Schedule F, a 2020 executive order that would allow for mass firings of nonpartisan employees, replacing them with loyalists. This could fundamentally alter the federal workforce by returning to the “spoils system” of the late 1800s, where political affiliation dictates employment. The potential impact extends beyond Washington D.C., threatening the livelihoods of federal employees across the country, and creating a chilling effect that discourages independent service. While unions are preparing legal challenges, the future of the federal workforce under a Trump presidency remains uncertain, with concerns about mass firings, relocation of agency offices, and a government efficiency commission headed by Elon Musk.
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John Q. Hosedrinker