Elon Musk is wielding a chainsaw against U.S. government departments, potentially culling tens of thousands of jobs as part of a sweeping plan to shrink the government and slash federal spending. This large-scale purge, coordinated through Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), may lead to one of the biggest employment cuts in U.S. history. Previous layoffs, such as IBM's 60,000 in 1993 and Lehman Brothers' 25,000 in 2008, could be outstripped by estimates hitting around 300,000 job losses.
On February 21, Musk sent a “productivity email” to all federal employees, demanding they summarize their work from the previous week. President Trump praised Musk’s ultimatum, suggesting that failure to comply could lead to being “semi-fired or fired.” Chaos ensued in Washington as employees were left unsure how to respond, marking a tumultuous phase aimed at trimming the federal workforce. Musk later admitted this email was a ruse to test whether federal workers “had a pulse.”
Political Payback?
Doge’s proposed job cuts target agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAid), where 4,700 employees have already been put on leave, with 1,600 positions terminated. These cuts come amid suspicions of political retaliation against agencies perceived as having left-leaning employees.
Not only are jobs at USAid under threat, but cuts are expected across various departments, including the Department of Education and the National Parks Service. Even the Pentagon faces reductions, with promises to slash military spending by 8% over the next five years.
Backlash and Legal Battles
Public opinion towards Musk is sharply divided along partisan lines, with 42% of Americans viewing him positively, but only 10% of Democrats share this sentiment. The rollout of Doge has faced major flubs, including Musk mistakenly firing and then rehiring workers at the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Legal challenges are mounting against Doge’s agenda, with unions alleging that mass firings of probationary workers are illegal. As Musk’s approach continues to draw skepticism, even within his own department, the implications for the future of federal employment and public services remain uncertain.
With rising concerns about the impact of these cuts on everyday Americans, the upcoming 2026 midterms could shift perceptions of Musk’s actions from symbols of efficiency to symbols of hubris.
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