How Trump and Musk Have Disrupted the Federal Workforce

In the span of just three weeks, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have drastically reshaped the federal workforce, making bold moves that have included the termination of senior officials, disrupting billion-dollar agencies, and encouraging tens of thousands of employees to voluntarily step down from their positions.

Despite facing significant opposition and legal battles, they indicate that these changes are only the beginning.

The Rapid Transformation of the Federal Workforce

Trump and Musk’s aggressive approach to government restructuring has been met with support from Trump’s followers, but it has also caused widespread confusion, fear, anger, and multiple legal challenges.

These measures are part of Trump’s broader plan to downsize the government and remove individuals or agencies that he and his allies believe are opposed to his administration.

Legal Challenges to Key Policies

Some of their most far-reaching initiatives have been temporarily blocked by courts. For example, a federal judge paused the buyout program, delaying its implementation while the court examined its legality.

Additionally, previous rulings have halted a freeze on federal spending and limited Musk’s team from accessing sensitive payment systems within the Treasury Department.

Despite these setbacks, Musk’s pace of action has been relentless. His efforts have included attempts to access confidential data and the dismantling of agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where many employees were placed on leave and sent back to the U.S.

Musk’s Influence on Federal Agencies

Musk, having previously reorganized Twitter’s workforce, is now wielding significant influence over the federal government, particularly with the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Employees who have resisted these changes have been quickly dismissed.

The Deferred Resignation Offer

One of the most impactful actions taken by the Trump administration has been the deferred resignation program, which offers federal employees the option to resign voluntarily but continue receiving pay through the end of September.

The program’s official memo, titled “Fork in the Road”, mirrors a similar offer Musk made to Twitter employees in 2022.

Response to the Buyout Offer

As of Thursday evening, over 65,000 federal workers—about 3% of those eligible—had accepted the resignation offer.

The administration’s target is a 5-10% reduction in the federal workforce, with additional layoffs expected for those who decline to participate.

Deferred Resignation Program Participation

Total Federal Workers	Offer Recipients	Accepted Buyout
2.4 million	2 million	65,000 (3%)

Long-Term Impact on the Federal Workforce

While some federal workers are leaving voluntarily, others face an uncertain future. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) memo warned that employees who did not take the buyout offer might face instability in their positions.

This has particularly affected probationary workers (those employed for less than one year) and older employees who are being encouraged to retire early.

Another significant change involves workers in policy-making roles. Trump’s new policies have targeted civil servants involved in policymaking, stripping them of their civil service protections and making it easier for the administration to replace them with loyalists. This effort mirrors the Schedule F initiative from 2020, designed to remove these protections.

Impact on Remote Workers

Trump’s administration has also moved to mandate that federal employees return to the office full-time, overriding existing union agreements regarding telework.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has strongly opposed these changes, arguing that the president does not have the legal authority to alter union contracts unilaterally.

Agency-Specific Impact

The effects of Trump’s measures have been most visible at USAID, where large portions of the workforce were placed on leave. The administration has drastically reduced USAID’s staff, focusing on fewer than 300 employees.

Additionally, senior staff at the agency were placed on leave for allegedly attempting to bypass the administration’s orders. The State Department now oversees USAID operations, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio assuming leadership.

Other Agencies Feeling the Pressure

Similar changes are being felt across the government. For instance, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) saw its director removed, with a new acting head overseeing a review to ensure consistency with the new administration’s goals.

Purging and Retribution at the Justice Department

In addition to downsizing efforts, Trump’s administration has sought retribution against those seen as adversaries.

The Justice Department was a key focus of these efforts, with officials who were involved in investigations into Trump being purged or forced into early retirement.

These moves are not just about reducing staff numbers but also about punishing perceived enemies of the administration.

Justice Department Personnel Moves

Action Taken	Number of Employees Affected
Purges of Investigative Officials	Hundreds
Early Retirement Offers	Limited Impact

Roadblocks and Legal Challenges

Although some of Trump’s and Musk’s efforts have been hindered by legal challenges, including court rulings blocking funding freezes and curbing access to Treasury payment systems, these moves are likely to continue facing scrutiny.

Experts suggest that these cases may ultimately be taken up by the Supreme Court, which could determine the extent of the changes Musk and Trump can make to the government.

Legal experts, such as Stephen Vladeck, believe that while Trump’s administration may win some cases, it will likely lose the more radical challenges, especially as lower courts take into account the potential harms caused by these actions.

Future Prospects

The legal battles will continue to shape the future of Trump’s overhaul of the federal government. Despite the setbacks, Trump’s administration is expected to push forward with its efforts to reshape the federal workforce and reduce its size, with the full scope of these changes likely to become clearer in the coming months.

FAQs

What is the deferred resignation program?

The deferred resignation program is an offer made to federal workers, allowing them to resign voluntarily but continue to receive pay until the end of September.

How many federal workers have accepted the buyout offer?

As of the latest update, about 65,000 federal workers have opted into the program, which represents approximately 3% of the total recipients.

How will these changes impact federal workers?

These changes could lead to significant downsizing, with the potential for layoffs affecting both probationary workers and older employees nearing retirement.