Tens of thousands of federal workers have been fired or have chosen to retire early under the Trump administration, contributing to billions of savings in the federal budget.
Trump orders agency to work with Musk on a massive cut
President Donald Trump has ordered US agents to work closely with the efforts of top adviser Elon Musk to reduce the federal workforce.
- Trump extended the employment freeze until October 15th with the exception of the military, immigration enforcement and national security.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs said it cut 17,000 staff from January and aims to reach an additional 12,000 by October 1st.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump ordered an extension of the freeze to hire rank and file federal workers until October 15th to close off his savings from layoffs and postponed retirements.
Trump has reduced the federal workforce by tens of thousands. For example, the Department of Veterans Affairs said it aimed to cut 17,000 people from January on July 7th and another 12,000 people by the end of the fiscal year ending September 30th.
Trump’s order states, “Except as exemptions or required by law, “vacancies of federal civilian positions are not met and new positions cannot be created.” His previous employment freeze, ordered in January, was extended until July 15th, and again.
Congress designates some institutional functions of the law and requires the law to be abolished, but may be created and eliminated by the chief of other laws. Lawmakers are debating whether to agree with some of the administration’s decisions to dismantle government agencies and reduce the workforce.
“It is prohibited to make a contract outside the federal government to avoid the intent of this memorandum,” the order states. The Chief of the Agency states that “we will call for efficient use of existing personnel and funds to improve public services and the provision of those services,” the order states.
Veterans Secretary Doug Collins said the decline in the entire workforce sector “has been off the table,” but authorities will continue to look for ways to make agents more efficient.
“Our reviews have brought many new ideas to serve the veterans we continue to pursue,” Collins said.
The employment freeze exempts the President’s Executive Office, officials he directly appointed, the military, immigration enforcement, national security or public safety.
Trump said the Director of Personnel Management could grant policy exceptions as “otherwise necessary.”
