The US president and his allies continue their efforts to dismantle agencies long viewed with disdain by conservatives.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies to collaborate with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to prepare for mass layoffs of federal employees.
In a memo released on Wednesday, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) stated that the layoffs will be part of a restructuring plan due by March 13.
Trump also hinted at the firings during his first cabinet meeting shortly thereafter, specifically targeting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), led by Administrator Lee Zeldin.
“I spoke with Lee Zeldin, and he believes he’ll be cutting about 65 percent of the staff at the EPA,” Trump said.
The memo is the latest step in an effort by Trump and Musk to dismantle government agencies and programs that have long been unpopular among conservatives—or are seen as opposed to Trump’s agenda.
While Trump has insisted that they are working to reduce an overgrown bureaucracy and save taxpayer money, critics argue that a tax bill pushed by Republicans would significantly increase the deficit, with benefits primarily going to the wealthiest Americans.
Before his return to the White House in January, Trump and his allies discussed the need to purge the government of employees they deemed insufficiently loyal.
During a rally on the first day of his second term, Trump reiterated this sentiment, calling for the removal of what he referred to as “Biden bureaucrats”—a nod to former President Joe Biden.
However, experts point out that many federal employees are nonpartisan civil servants who help maintain stability across different presidential administrations.
Agencies central to immigration and law enforcement were excluded from the layoffs outlined in Wednesday’s memo.
The legality of the mass layoff efforts has been challenged in court, with critics arguing that the executive branch does not have the authority to dismantle agencies created and funded by Congress.
Such legal challenges have had mixed success, however.
Some judges have imposed temporary restraining orders on the Trump administration’s funding freezes and staffing changes, while others have allowed Trump to proceed with his plans.
Stay updated with the latest happenings by visiting ZTC News and ZNews Today for more news and updates.