Trump administration’s move to cut government spending has led to the dismissal of over 9,500 government officials and employees in the United States within 26 days, starting from January 20.
During the USA presidential election, current President Donald Trump developed a close relationship with the world’s wealthiest individual, Elon Musk. Following his inauguration on January 20, Trump ordered the creation of a new office titled “Government Spending Reduction and Employee Skill Enhancement,” appointing Musk as its head. However, without recognition from the USA Congress, the office has not achieved ministerial status, leaving Musk to serve in an advisory capacity.
The layoffs began on Trump’s inauguration day, now nearing 10,000. Employees from nearly all ministries, including Interior, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Health, and Human Services, are among those dismissed. These layoffs are occurring under the supervision of Musk’s office.
Soon, thousands more will join the list as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), one of the largest government departments, announced plans to issue dismissal notices to over 1,000 employees next week.
Alongside layoffs, more than 70,000 officials and employees face a “buyout program” or “golden handshake.” Since January 20, approximately 75,000 have been compelled to resign voluntarily under this program.
The Trump administration has also halted financial allocations to many government offices and agencies, pushing some towards existential crises. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has already closed, with several others on the brink.
Trump recently stated that the federal government’s size has become “bloated,” leading to significant financial waste and corruption. Last year, government debt reached $36 trillion, with a budget deficit of $1.8 trillion. Thus, the layoffs and funding cuts were unanimously adopted to reform the government system.
However, sources within the USA Congress indicate that while Trump’s “reform program” has support from Republican lawmakers, it lacks backing from the opposition Democratic Party.
“The state has betrayed me.”
Government employees, suddenly laid off as if struck by lightning from a clear sky, are struggling to accept this mass layoff program. Nick Gioia, a former USA military member, retired voluntarily after 17 years of service and joined the Economic Research Service under the USA Department of Agriculture (USDA) last year. Now, he is being forced to leave his job as the Trump administration has cut funding to the agency.
“As a military member, I spent the best years of my life serving the country. I risked my life for the nation’s security, but now I feel that the state I dedicated my entire youth to has betrayed me.”
Gioia, a resident of Elizabethtown in Kentucky, told Liberty News, “Thousands of employees like me have been laid off or forced to resign. Such mass layoffs should not happen in any sector, whether government or private. This recklessness with people’s lives and livelihoods must stop.”
Steve Lenkart, Executive Director of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), informed Liberty News that there are approximately 2.03 million government employees working domestically and internationally. The union fears that over 100,000 staff members will be laid off this year.
LND/SAKIB
