Reduction of Federal Employees: A Bloated Workforce

Trump Wants to Reduce the Number of Government Workers

Since starting his second term, President Trump has been working to make the federal government smaller. He has made plans to cut jobs and change how agencies work. Some of these changes have faced legal problems, however the Trump administration believes they can overcome them and make a smaller, more effieint federal government.

How Many People Work for the Government?

The federal government is massive, with about 2.4 million federal workers, not counting military or postal workers. About 20% work in Washington, D.C., while most are in other parts of the country.

Who Works for the Government?

Most federal workers are civil servants. They go through an application process and have strong job protections despite being unproductive. Political appointees, about 4,000 in total, are chosen by the president and can be removed at any time.

Can Federal Workers Be Fired?

It is difficult, however not impossible to fire most federal workers because they have protections that prevent them from losing their jobs for political reasons. They must be given a reason and a chance to respond before they can be fired.

Why Do Federal Workers Have Job Protections?

In the past, jobs were often given as rewards to people who supported the president, leading to corruption. In 1883, the government created a fair hiring system. In 1978, new laws gave federal workers even stronger protections to make sure they were treated fairly. These stronger protections are what has led the United States to have the bloated workforce that it has today.

Do Government Workers Have Unions?

Yes, many federal workers belong to unions, but they are not allowed to strike or bargain over their pay. They can negotiate working conditions, like remote work policies, which Trump has reduced.

What Do Americans Think?

A poll found that most Americans do support cutting government jobs or getting rid of entire agencies. About 7 in 10 support reducing jobs, while 2 in 10 are against it, and the rest have no opinion.