President Trump has refined his approach to federal workforce reductions, instructing Cabinet Secretaries to use a “scalpel” rather than a “hatchet” when determining which employees to retain or dismiss.
At a Glance
- Trump clarified that Cabinet secretaries, not Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will make final staffing decisions
- The administration is seeking targeted reductions to keep the “best and most productive” federal employees
- Regular biweekly meetings will monitor progress on workforce reductions
- The initiative has faced criticism and legal challenges, with at least 20,000 federal employees reportedly fired
- Cabinet members must collaborate with DOGE but retain authority over their departments
Cabinet Authority Over Staffing Decisions
In a significant clarification of roles, President Donald Trump has established that his Cabinet Secretaries, not Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will make final decisions on federal workforce reductions. The directive came during a Cabinet meeting where Trump outlined his vision for streamlining the federal bureaucracy through targeted staff cuts rather than mass layoffs, setting boundaries on Musk’s authority in the process.
“Now that we have my Cabinet in place, I have instructed the Secretaries and Leadership to work with DOGE on cost cutting measures and staffing. As the Secretaries learn about, and understand, the people working for the various Departments, they can be very precise as to who will remain, and who will go. We say the ‘scalpel’ rather than the ‘hatchet’,” President Trump said.
🚨🇺🇸 TRUMP ADMIN CUTS 21,720 FEDERAL JOBS: IRS AND HHS HIT HARDEST
New data shows DOGE's efficiency campaign has trimmed 6,700 positions at IRS, 5,200 at HHS, and 3,400 at Forest Service.
The cuts target probationary employees first, focusing on bureaucratic agencies.… https://t.co/GNH3N3WBg5 pic.twitter.com/YfybmIQ1p8
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 25, 2025
Strategic Approach to Workforce Reduction
The President emphasized the importance of retaining valuable employees while reducing overall staffing levels. This approach marks a strategic shift from earlier concerns about sweeping cuts that had prompted anxiety among federal workers and even some Republican lawmakers. Trump described the federal workforce as “out of control” but insisted on a methodical approach to downsizing that preserves institutional knowledge and maintains operational efficiency.
Reports indicate the federal workforce reduction initiative has already resulted in approximately 20,000 terminations, with another 75,000 employees accepting deferred resignations. Recruitment firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported 172,017 layoffs in February, with the government sector experiencing the highest number of job cuts. These reductions have not come without controversy, facing both legal challenges and criticism from high-profile voices.
Despite the pushback, Trump has praised Musk and DOGE for their efforts, saying, “I think they’ve done an amazing job.” Musk described the Cabinet meeting as “very productive” and has previously characterized DOGE’s role as supporting departments in reducing fraud and waste. The tech billionaire has also engaged with congressional leadership, meeting with both Senate and House Republicans to address concerns about potential voter backlash and to discuss opportunities for improving government expenditures.
