Trump plans to establish a Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, that supports cutting approximately 75% of federal jobs.
Federal employees are anticipating significant upheaval as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House. Many workers are anxious about potential mass dismissals and drastic changes to the federal workforce, recalling the challenges they faced during Trump’s first term, NPR reported.
This time, however, the threat appears even more severe with Trump’s plans to establish a Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, aimed at slashing regulations, cutting jobs and restructuring federal agencies.
“This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people,” Musk said in the official statement.
The Trump campaign likened the significance of this effort to that of the Manhattan Project—the top-secret scientific and military endeavor conducted during World War II, tasked with developing the world’s first nuclear weapons.
The billionaire pair will act as external advisors, collaborating with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Ramaswamy called for a “massive downsizing” to combat what he called “wildly unlawful” practices in the United States government.
Additionally, Musk has suggested reducing the number of federal agencies by approximately 75%, though any major changes to government funding would require congressional approval.
« People are apprehensive and fearful », said Nicole Cantello, an attorney with the Environmental Protection Agency and current union president representing EPA employees in the Upper Midwest, in an interview with NPR.
