The administration of President Donald Trump is actively working to decrease the federal workforce, nearing the record established during the tenure of former President Bill Clinton.
During his administration, Clinton reduced the federal workforce from 2.2 million to 1.8 million, achieving the highest number of federal job reductions since World War II, as reported by Just the News. The civilian workforce statistics do not include military personnel or employees of the United States Postal Service (USPS), with most figures pertaining to executive branch staff, who constitute the majority of the federal payroll.
These employees are also the primary focus for reductions as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, aims to eliminate trillions in budget expenditures, according to the outlet.
In the early stages of the second Trump administration, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) facilitated a significant federal buyout, providing employees with the opportunity to resign in exchange for compensation until September 30.
This approach mirrors the strategy employed by the Clinton administration during numerous job reductions throughout his two terms. The Trump administration reported that approximately 3 percent of the extensive 2.3 million federal workforce accepted the offer, falling short of the anticipated 5 to 10 percent.
However, the administration is preparing for another round of buyouts and is optimistic that a greater number of employees will participate this time, particularly in light of the ongoing firings of federal workers.
The reductions are also affecting the Defense Department. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated, ‘My goal is to enhance participation to reduce the necessity for involuntary measures that may be needed to meet our strategic goals,’ in reference to buyouts.
Clinton’s record stands at approximately 377,000 to 426,200 job cuts, while Trump would need to eliminate around 200,000 federal positions to surpass this record. In February, Fox News anchor Kayleigh McEnany referenced a 2017 Washington Post article discussing bureaucratic resistance to Trump during his initial term, following comments from Marie Harf, a former Obama administration official, regarding the dismissal of government employees.
On January 20, Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by rebranding the United States Digital Service through an executive order. He also expanded the commission’s responsibilities to include the reduction of federal employment.
During a discussion on ‘Outnumbered,’ McEnany referenced reports indicating that some federal employees were attempting to remain in their positions ‘out of spite’ in order to see Trump’s term conclude. ‘I believe federal employees can be categorized into three groups.
The first group consists of political appointees, many of whom are excited about these changes, viewing them as a transformative moment for government. The second group includes dedicated federal employees who are indifferent to the identity of the president; they are genuinely invested in their work. However, it is important to note that this group does not represent all federal workers,’ McEnany stated.
According to Harf, DOGE is not overseeing these individuals, while many people nationwide are struggling to pay their mortgages or provide food for their children after losing jobs they believed were secure.
This situation is neither electorally nor morally advantageous for Republicans. Following a discussion, McEnany referenced a Post article regarding Trump’s first-term officials who opposed his policies. She stated, ‘It is simplistic to highlight individual cases of those who received termination notices; however, the context is important: This is not a Republican or conservative publication, but rather ‘the Washington Post’… which years ago reported on ‘Resistance From Within The Federal Government.’
