President Donald Trump has wasted no time since taking office, already setting the tone with bold moves to streamline the executive branch. In a typical Trump fashion, he declared, “YOU’RE FIRED!” to several federal appointees in a Truth Social post, echoing his famous catchphrase from The Apprentice.
Senator Mike Lee Weighs In
Utah Senator Mike Lee is all in on Trump’s plan. When asked about who Trump should let go, he didn’t hold back. His answer? “Everyone in the executive branch.” Lee pointed out that the Constitution gives the president the power to fire anyone in the executive branch—except for the vice president.
Big Names Getting the Axe
Trump’s clean sweep includes several high-profile figures. Since his inauguration, he’s shown the door to a number of appointees, including chef Jose Andres from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, and Brian Hook, a former envoy to Iran. Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms also got the boot from the President’s Export Council, and retired General Mark Milley was removed from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council.
Trump isn’t stopping there. He’s actively working to remove over 1,000 presidential appointees from the previous administration.
Even the Nonpartisan Agencies Aren’t Safe
Trump’s purging even extends to nonpartisan agencies. Take, for instance, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, who resigned before Trump’s inauguration, despite his term lasting until 2027. His resignation followed Trump’s nomination of former Missouri Congressman Billy Long for the position. Similarly, former FBI Director Christopher Wray is expected to be replaced by Trump’s pick, Kash Patel.
A Bold Plan to Reduce the Federal Workforce
But Trump’s plan isn’t just about firing people. He’s also focusing on cutting back the size of the government. During a speech at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., he announced that he would revoke nearly 80 executive actions from the previous administration, some of which included ending remote work for federal employees.
Currently, about 46% of federal employees, or 1.1 million people, are eligible for remote work. But under Trump’s plan, that’s about to change.
Aiming for a Government Shuffle
As part of his plan to reduce government size, Trump has promised to move up to 100,000 government jobs out of Washington. This is in line with his campaign promise to dismantle the so-called “deep state.” Trump’s move to eliminate remote work might spark what Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, refers to as “a wave of voluntary terminations.”
Trump’s first term saw similar moves, like relocating the Bureau of Land Management’s headquarters to Colorado, which led to the departure of 287 employees.
A Hiring Freeze and More Cuts
There’s also talk of a 90-day hiring freeze. Federal agencies will be expected to submit plans to shrink their workforce through what’s being called “efficiency improvements and attrition,” according to Federal News Network’s Jason Miller.
In addition to cutting down the federal workforce, Trump is also dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and placing new restrictions on transgender individuals serving in the military.
The Takeaway
It’s clear that Trump is making big changes from the get-go. His aggressive approach to reshaping the federal government is already shaking things up, and we’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out. Whether you agree with his actions or not, it’s impossible to ignore the impact he’s making on the nation’s political landscape.
