Driven by the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE) led by Musk, the U.S. government’s “Great Downsizing” is intensifying.
After U.S. President Trump issued an executive order on February 11 to lay off federal employees, the latest memo provides more specific guidance, requiring agencies to submit their layoff plans and broader agency restructuring plans.
That suggests the White House is eager to speed up federal employee cuts.
The memo instructs agencies to work with DOGE team leaders and recommends cutting positions that “are not typically designated as essential during funding disruptions.”
The memo also recommends that agencies close and/or consolidate regional field offices and minimize the use of outside consultants and contractors without compromising service efficiency.
Agencies were also instructed to weigh "whether they or their divisions should be eliminated or consolidated."
The memo also recommends agencies improve efficiency by "automating routine tasks."
Agencies have also been instructed to enter "Phase 2" by April 14, listing all employees planned for layoffs and any proposed relocation plans.
Once agencies submit their "Phase 2" plans, they can begin formally notifying employees who will be laid off. While the notice is typically given 60 days before termination, OPM has the authority to shorten the usual 60-day layoff notice period to 30 days, according to the memorandum.
Law enforcement, national security, military and postal service positions, as well as all political appointees and White House personnel, are not affected.
“Consistent with the President’s direction, agencies should focus on minimizing the elimination of non-statutorily required functions while promoting the highest quality, most efficient performance of statutorily required functions,” OPM and OMB wrote in the memo.
America's largest federal employee union issues warning
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union in the United States, accused the Trump administration of causing chaos and warned of a cost.
"The potential layoffs of hundreds of thousands of federal workers means reduced services at higher costs for American taxpayers. Longer wait times at veterans' hospitals, fewer inspectors to ensure the safety of meat and produce, less research into treating deadly diseases, greater risks for air travelers, longer wait times for Social Security enrollment and passport processing, and more," AFGE said in a statement.
"This will not result in any significant savings for taxpayers - in fact taxpayers may end up paying more as the essential work our government does is sold to private contractors," the union added.
Currently, there are approximately 2.3 million federal employees in the United States (excluding the Postal Service). Comprehensive media reports indicate that at least 20,000 federal employees have been laid off in the past few weeks, and about 75,000 federal employees have agreed to accept a "buyout" plan and resign.