Trump, Musk Meet in Oval Office as President Orders Major Federal Workforce Reductions

 

Trump, Musk Meet in Oval Office as President Orders Major Federal Workforce Reductions

President Donald Trump, joined by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk in the Oval Office, signed an executive order Tuesday mandating significant downsizing of the federal government. The directive instructs agency and department heads to develop plans for "large-scale reductions in force."

The order establishes a "workforce optimization initiative" led by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has aggressively pushed through departments slashing expenditures and eliminating programs.

"It's not a choice to cut federal costs; it's a necessity," Musk stated while standing next to Trump, wearing a black MAGA hat and accompanied by his son, X. He criticized the federal bureaucracy, calling it an "unelected, fourth, unconstitutional branch of government" that must be restrained.

"The American people voted for major government reform, and that’s exactly what they will get," Musk continued, addressing claims that DOGE's involvement represents a hostile takeover. "That’s the essence of democracy."

Agencies Ordered to Coordinate with DOGE

Under the new order, all federal agencies must "work in collaboration with DOGE to reduce workforce numbers and limit hiring strictly to essential roles," according to a White House statement summarizing the directive.

"Agency heads shall immediately begin preparations to initiate broad workforce reductions, consistent with applicable laws," the order states. It prioritizes the elimination of "all offices that perform functions not explicitly required by statute or other legal mandates."

Musk Pledges Transparency, Aims to ‘Right-Size’ Workforce

Trump signed the order privately after reporters were ushered out of the Oval Office, the White House confirmed.

"We've already uncovered billions of dollars in waste, incompetence, and corruption," Trump declared, praising DOGE’s efforts to curb excess spending, which both he and Musk repeatedly referred to as "fraud" during an extensive press interaction.

This event marked Musk’s first on-the-record public Q&A session since Trump’s second-term inauguration. The SpaceX CEO took several questions, defending DOGE’s approach and asserting that the initiative would not create conflicts of interest despite his extensive business ties, including Pentagon contracts.

"All of our actions are fully transparent," Musk insisted. "If there’s even a hint of conflict, people will call it out immediately."

The executive order coincides with the administration’s offer of voluntary buyouts to nearly 2.3 million federal employees. The buyout, which promises continued pay through September for those who agree to resign, is currently facing legal challenges. A federal judge in Massachusetts extended a temporary block on the initiative Monday to allow for further legal arguments.

While 60,000 employees—roughly 2.6% of the federal workforce—have accepted the buyout, this figure falls short of the administration’s goal of 5% to 10% participation. Should those numbers remain low, the White House has indicated that furloughs and layoffs are likely.

"We aim to appropriately scale the federal workforce," Musk explained. "The government needs a strong workforce, but not one as bloated as it is today."

Order Establishes New Hiring Standards

The directive also revises hiring protocols, stipulating that for every four employees who leave, only one may be hired—except in departments handling immigration, law enforcement, or public safety.

Additionally, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has been instructed to draft new hiring regulations requiring future federal employees to meet enhanced conduct standards, including U.S. citizenship requirements and timely tax filing compliance.

Within 30 days, agency heads must submit reports to the Office of Management and Budget identifying the statutes that established their agencies.

"The report shall evaluate whether the agency or any of its subdivisions should be eliminated or merged," the order states.

A recent OPM memo directed agencies to compile a list of employees who received less than a “fully successful” performance rating within the past three years. Agencies were also asked to identify obstacles preventing "swift termination of underperforming employees."

"What are the two key factors in cutting the budget deficit from $2 trillion to $1 trillion?" Musk posed. "It boils down to two things: competence and accountability."

Legal Challenges Loom as Trump Accelerates Federal Overhaul

Guided by Musk and DOGE, Trump has aggressively dismantled federal institutions within his first weeks in office, including shutting down the United States Agency for International Development and initiating the dissolution of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The administration is also exploring the elimination of the Department of Education.

These efforts have triggered legal battles that could determine the limits of executive power in restructuring the government. Federal judges have temporarily blocked aspects of the USAID shutdown and restricted Musk’s access to Treasury Department payment systems.