A leaked internal memo reveals President Donald Trump's extensive plans to reduce the government workforce across multiple federal departments.
According to Daily Mail, the administration plans to implement staff reductions ranging from 8% to 50% at 22 government agencies, with the Department of Housing and Urban Development facing the most severe cuts at 50% and the Department of Justice looking at an 8% reduction.
The memo, written a week ago, outlines significant changes to federal employment through Reductions in Force (RIFs) scheduled for next month. These cuts are expected to affect various departments differently, with some facing more drastic reductions than others.
The Treasury Department, which includes the Internal Revenue Service, is set to experience a 30% reduction in workforce. Officials anticipate this move will result in a significant drop in tax revenue, potentially exceeding $500 billion or 10% of current collections.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development faces the most severe cuts at 50%, while the Small Business Administration is slated for a 43% reduction. These changes are part of a broader initiative to streamline government operations.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins expressed support for the changes, highlighting the administration's commitment to restructuring. She emphasized the scale of her department's involvement, noting its size of over 100,000 employees.
The Education Department, under Secretary Linda McMahon's leadership, is expected to implement 50% staff reductions, projected to save $6 billion. The Justice Department's 8% cut is anticipated to generate $1.9 billion in savings.
At the Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to reduce the workforce by 20,000 employees. This includes cutting 3,500 positions at the Food and Drug Administration, 2,400 at the Centers for Disease Control, and 1,200 at the National Institutes of Health.
The National Science Foundation, despite its bipartisan support in Congress, faces a 28% reduction. The Commerce Department is also preparing for a 30% cut in its workforce.
Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk has received praise from Trump cabinet officials for his role in implementing these changes. During a Fox News interview with Bret Baier, Musk discussed the administration's goal of reducing government spending by 15%.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields addressed the memo, describing it as a "pre-deliberative draft." He emphasized that final reduction plans would be announced by Cabinet Secretaries to their respective departments at appropriate times.
Some of the cuts have already sparked controversy, particularly regarding the firing of probationary employees in food inspection roles amid a bird flu outbreak. The administration maintains these changes will not impact critical services.
The leaked memo represents President Trump's most ambitious attempt yet to restructure the federal government through extensive staff reductions. The plan affects 22 different agencies, with cuts ranging from 8% at the Department of Justice to 50% at Housing and Urban Development. These widespread reductions are scheduled to begin next month, potentially affecting tens of thousands of federal employees.
