Order aligns with DOGE’s ‘workforce optimization initiative’
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday instructing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to coordinate with federal agencies and execute massive cuts in federal government staffing numbers.
The order will instruct DOGE and federal agencies to work together to “significantly” shrink the size of the federal government and limit hiring new employees, according to a White House fact sheet on the order. Specifically, agencies must not hire more than one employee for every four that leave their federal post.
Agencies will also be instructed to “undertake plans for large-scale reductions in force” and evaluate ways to eliminate or combine agency functions that aren’t legally required.
DOGE Chair Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, told reporters Tuesday in the Oval Office that the American people voted for “major” government reform and that the Trump administration would deliver.
Trump voiced similar sentiments about providing voters what they wanted – to tackle “all of this “horrible stuff going on” – and told reporters that he hoped the court system would cooperate.
“I hope that the court system is going to allow us to do what we have to do,” Trump said, who also said he would always abide by a court’s ruling but will be prepared to appeal.