Arthor: Kris Main
When Donald John Trump first ran for president in 2016, " It is time to drain the swamp in Washington, D. C., " he said. ” The implication is that there will be major layoffs and reforms in the American bureaucracy. ” . Unlike the first term of government affairs, after winning the election, With the help of the world's richest man, Elon Reeve Musk, With the help of the Department of Government Efficiency, he rushed to implement the reform plan.
Compared with the caution in the first term, since the establishment of DOGE, the Trump administration has made great efforts in terms of the speed and depth of government reform. It is unique in American history. There is no doubt that this has continuously dropped heavy explosive bombs in the American political ecosphere.
The government layoffs involve military, diplomatic, intelligence, education, scientific research and other departments of the United States government. In less than three months of layoffs and reforms, DOGE has received strong support from Trump himself. With the deepening of layoffs, a large number of federal employees in the United States have been dismissed collectively. Whether you are a senior nuclear weapons expert at the US Department of Energy, and a diplomat at the Department of State, Or the staff of the Department of Education, all of whom have lost their jobs with the help of DOGE.
DOGE itself is not a government agency, but only an advisory body, so it has also been deeply questioned by various parties in the United States. As for DOGE's performance email storm, it makes everyone in the US administrative system feel insecure. All kinds of affected organizations and individuals continue to hold protests, and the scale is getting larger and larger. Even some DOGE employees have chosen to resign to protest against Musk's massive layoffs.
Trump, however, is not about to stop. In his State of the Union address to Congress on March 5, 2025, Trump still highly praised the effectiveness of DOGE. Under such "grace", DOGE was in the limelight for a time.
As the scale of DOGE's government layoffs continues to expand, members of Trump's team are also in open conflict with Musk and DOGE. US Secretary of State Mark Rubio, for example, has publicly sparred with Musk in cabinet meetings.
So it is worth discussing what this big layoff will turn the U. S. government into and where the United States will go. It is even bold to say that if there are unpredictable shock results in the future, it will not be surprising.
One, Purpose of DOGE
The U. S. Department of Government Efficiency (hereinafter referred to as DOGE) is well known for its name with the virtual currency DOGE (Dogecoin). Others jokingly call it the "Dog Department". Of course, its head Elon Musk, the world's richest man, is known for his business success. He contributed money and effort to Trump's 2024 election and used his acquisition of X (formerly Twitter) as a trumpeter in the 2024 election. It can be said that Trump's re-election success also has considerable credit. Because of similar political ideas, he naturally became the person in charge of Trump's establishment of DOGE.
Of course, as a controlling president, Trump has also installed another head Vivek Ramaswamy at DOGE as a check and balance. The man also ran for president in 2024, but chose to pursue a career in the Trump administration. He does not have a high presence in the operation of DOGE at present.
To explore DOGE, we have to refer to a signed article in the Wall Street Journal on November 20, 2024. In an article entitled Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy: The DOGE Reform Government Plan (Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy the DOGE Plan to Reform Government), the two directors of DOGE carefully introduced the purpose and mission of the Ministry. In this paper, the two authors clearly elaborate the logic and purpose of DOGE's action. In particular, a number of well-known Supreme Court precedents are cited.
First of all, our nation was founded on the basic idea that the people we elect run the country Congress does not make most laws in the United States today. Instead, the bureaucracy issues (Most legal edicts aren't laws enacted by Congress but "rules and) through" rules and regulations ". regulations” promulgated by unelected bureaucrats). Most government enforcement and discretionary spending, Most government enforcement decisions and discretionary expenditures are not made by the elected president or his political appointees aren’t made by the democratically elected president or even his political appointees). Millions of civil servants who do not need to be elected or appointed are the real system makers (but by millions of unelected, unappointed civil servants within government agencies). And because the law protects civil servants, So they can hardly be fired (who view themselves as immune from firing thanks to civil). It imposes massive direct and indirect costs on taxpayers.
Therefore, the two men will, at Trump's request, President Trump has asked the two of us to lead a newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to cut the federal government down to size). Their target is an entrenched and growing bureaucracy (The entrenched and ever). We will serve as outside volunteers, not federal officials or employees. We'll cut costs will take place.
DOGE primarily promotes three types of reforms: regulatory deregulation, administrative cutbacks, and cost savings (three major kinds of reform: regulatory rescission s, administrative reductions and cost savings).
We will focus particularly on driving change through executive action by statute, not by new law based on existing legislation rather than by passing new laws). Its legal basis is the Constitution of the United States (Our North Star for reform will be the U. S. Constitution). And two critical Supreme Court rulings during the Biden administration issued during President Biden’s tenure). One was West Virginia v. EPA (West Virginia V. ) in 2022. Environmental Protection Agency (2022)). In that case, the judge ruled that, unless expressly authorized by Congress, Otherwise, administrative bodies do not have the authority to deal with legislation (the justices held that agencies can't impose) dealing with major economic or policy issues. regulations dealing with major economic or policy questions unless Congress specifically authorizes them to do so)；Second, Loper Bright Company v. United States Secretary of Commerce Raimondo (Loper Bright V. Raimondo (2024)). The Court overturned the Chevron Doctrine (the court overturned the Chevron doctrine). The Chevron doctrine was developed by the United States Supreme Court in Chevron U. S. A. Inc. V. NRDC (Chevron U. S. A. , 25 June 1984. , Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. (1984)). In that case, the judge ruled that the federal courts should no longer defer to the federal agency's power to interpret the law or to make administrative rules. longer defer to federal agencies’ interpretations of the law or their own rulemaking authority).
The author emphasizes that the President can immediately suspend the implementation of these regulations through executive action. And initiate a review and revocation procedure (by executive action, immediately pause the enforcement of those regulations and initiate the process for review and rescission). This is not ultra vires. The reason given by the authors is that these administrative regulations were not authorized by Congress (it will be correcting the executive overreach of thousands of). regulations promulgated by administrative fiat that were never authorized by Congress). The author stress that that use of new rules in place of legislation is unconstitutional, but it is in the spirit of the Supreme Court (The use of executive orders to substitute for lawmaking by adding) to strike down the wrong law. burdensome new rules is a constitutional affront, but the use of executive orders to roll back regulations that wrongly bypassed Congress is legitimate and necessary to comply with the Supreme Court’s recent mandates). A future president will not be able to reverse all this (a future president couldn't simply flip the switch and revive them).
Aft solving that redundant administrative regulation, DOGE is about to embark on mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy. DOGE will identify the minimum number of employees required at an agency for it to perform its constitutionally permissible and statutorily mandated functions). The number of federal employees to cut should be at least proportionate to the number of federal regulations that are nullified). In this way, after the power is limited, the departments will make fewer laws in the future (the agency would produce fewer regulations).
DOGE's layoffs are based on the fact that even though the conventional wisdom is that. To protect civil servants is to prevent the president and his political appointees from firing federal workers (Conventional wisdom holds that statutory civil-service protections stop the president or even his political appointees from firing federal workers), The purpose of these protections is to protect employees from political retaliation). But as long as it is not targeted at a particular employee, "Redundancy (reductions in force)" is legal (But the statute allows for "reductions in force" that don't target). specific employees). The President thus has the power to prescribe rules governing the competitive services (The statute further empowers the president to "prescribe rules governing the competitive service. ). ” ). That power is broad. Previous presidents have used this power to change civil service rules by executive order (Previous presidents have used it to amend the). civil service rules by executive order). Written by the Supreme Court of the United States in Franklin v. Massachusetts (Franklin V. 1992). Massachusetts (1992)) and Collins v. Yellen (Collins V. Yellen (2021)). Saying that President Trump was not bound by the Administrative Procedure Act (Administrative Procedures Act) when he did so (they weren't)constrained by the Administrative Procedures Act when they did so). Therefore, DOGE supports Trump's implementation of any number of "rules governing competitive services" (With this authority, Mr. Trump can implement any number of “rules governing the competitive service”). That is, In theory, Trump could cut jobs on a massive scale and even move federal agencies from the Washington area to the scale firings to relocation of. federal agencies out of the Washington area).
For those employees who are going to be laid off, the author expresses respect. Employees whose positions are eliminated deserve to be treated with respect. The president can use existing laws to give them incentives for retirement. early retirement), and to make voluntary severance payments to facilitate a graceful exit. It is worth mentioning that there are no perfect measures to deal with the aftermath of the layoffs. This has also led to a huge butterfly effect of layoffs.
The author believes that the purpose of the reform is to save costs (delivering cost savings for taxpayers) for taxpayers. President Trump had previously suggested that the 1974 Appropriation Control Act (Impoundment Control Act) was unconstitutional. The law prohibits the President from suspending expenditures authorized by Congress (Impoundment Control Act 1974, They point to the, p. which stops the president from ceasing expenditures authorized by Congress. Mr. Trump has previously suggested this statute is unconstitutional). DOGE believes that the current Supreme Court would likely side with him on this question. It also implies a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court. This time, the Republican Party won the Senate and the House of Representatives, and also had the advantage of the Supreme Court, which is indeed the basis for Trump to dare to reform.
But even without relying on that view, DOGE will also target more than $500 billion in federal spending (end federal overspending by taking aim at the $500 billion plus in annual). federal expenditures). The authors argue that these expenditures are often not approved by Congress or are not carried out in the way Congress wants (that are unauthorized by Congress or being used in ways that Congress never intended). In addition, the federal procurement process is also very confusing (The federal government's procurement process is also badly broken). A large number of federal contracts have gone unreviewed (Many federal contracts have gone unexamined for years) for years. For example, the Pentagon recently failed its seventh consecutive audit. That means the agency's leadership doesn't know how more than $800 billion of its annual budget is spent. (The Pentagon recently failed its seventh consecutive audit, suggesting that the agency’s leadership has little idea how its annual budget of more than $800 billion is spent). However, the authors do not believe that entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid should be Medicaid), The reason is that the administrative measures promoted by DOGE should save taxpayers money quickly (by identifying pinpoint executive actions that would result in immediate savings for taxpayers). In other words, even DOGE does not dare to touch the welfare expenditure easily, which also shows that it involves a wide range of areas. No visible improvement can be achieved in a short period of time.
They stressed that as a temporary agency, DOGE will end its mission on July 4, 2025. It was also the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. DOGE completed its reform mission thoroughly on the same day. It will also be a tribute to the founding fathers of the United States (Our top goal for DOGE is to eliminate the need for its existence by July 4, 2026—the expiration date we have set for our project. There is no better birthday gift to our nation on its 250th anniversary than to deliver a federal government that would make our Founders proud).
At the end of the article, they said, "We are ready to deal with the fierce attacks of vested interests in Washington. ” . We expect to win. Now is the time for decisive action (We are prepared for the onslaught from entrenched interests in Washington. ). We expect to prevail. Now is the moment for decisive action). "What followed really proved that there was tremendous resistance to DOGE's reforms. ” .
It can be said that this article may not be completely correct, but it has a self-consistent logical structure, reflecting a strong initiative. This manifesto article basically foreshadows the actions after DOGE. In fact, the federal government's large-scale layoffs are indeed carried out in accordance with this idea. Such a ferocious reform has indeed created a powerful hurricane in Washington.
Two, the great layoffs of guns and knives.
The US military intelligence system, that is, the violent organs of the United States, has attracted the most attention in the US federal layoffs. The US diplomatic system, which is highly integrated with intelligence agencies, is also the focus of the impact. But it was not the Department of Defense or the intelligence agencies that were the first to be hit, but the U. S. Department of Energy.
The story was first revealed by CNN on February 14, 2025. Sources told CNN; Officials did not know that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) was responsible for US nuclear weapons. The agency began to reverse the dismissal decision (The agency began rescinding the terminations Friday morning) on the same day. The fired employees include those responsible for supervising the contractors who build nuclear weapons and inspect them. build nuclear weapons, and they inspect these weapons), There are also NNSA headquarters employees who set requirements and guidelines for nuclear weapons contractors (employees at NNSA headquarters who write). requirements and guidelines for contractors who build nuclear weapons).
Another source told CNN, "Congress is nervous. ” Because the DOE doesn't really seem to realize that the NNSA is responsible for overseeing the nuclear stockpile (Congress is freaking out because it appears DOE didn’t really realize NNSA oversees the nuclear stockpile)”, "The nuclear deterrent is the backbone of America's security and stability -- period. ” . Even if there is even a small loophole in the process of maintaining this deterrent force, The nuclear deterrent is the backbone of American security and stability – period. For there to be any even very small holes poked even in the maintenance of that deterrent should be extremely frightening topeople). ”
NNSA has a total of 1, 800 employees at facilities across the United States. At present, the only probationary employee who was not fired was an employee of the Office of Safe Transportation (The only probationary staffers exempt from the). Thursday-night firings were those who work at its Office of Secure Transportation).
Bloomberg added to the story on Feb. 16. Two sources told Bloomberg; The US Department of Energy is trying to recall 300 to 400 NNSA employees previously laid off. Jill Hruby, who served as director of the NNSA during the Biden administration, said: who served as the NNSA administrator during the Biden administration), These cuts typically require a high-level security clearance and about 18 months or more of training (the positions typically require high-level security clearances and training that can take 18 months or longer). "These people are highly skilled, " he said in a telephone interview. They are willing to work 24/7 (These staff members were probationary employees and held primarily administrative and clerical). roles)”, But the chances are that these people will never return to work for the government.”
Interestingly, a spokesman for the Department of Energy said less than 50 employees were dismissed. And is a probationary employee, Primarily in administrative and clerical work (probationary employees and held primarily administrative and clerical roles).
If the NNSA layoffs are somewhat nonsensical, they are very direct against the US Department of Defense. According to the Washington Post on February 19, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military brass to draw up a plan. Cut the defense budget by 8% per year for the next five years (Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered senior leaders at the Pentagon and. throughout the U. S. military to develop plans for cutting 8 percent from the defense budget in each of the next five years). In addition, He also asked for the names of thousands of probationary Defense Department employees to be laid off (seeking lists of thousands of probationary Defense). Department employees expected to be fired this week). The Department has more than 900, 000 civilian employees, many of whom are veterans (which has more than 900, 000 civilian employees; many of them military veterans).
In addition, the National Security Agency has provided the Pentagon with a list of ID numbers of about 4000 probationary employees. About 10% of the spy service's civilian staff. It is labeled "CUI" – Controlled Unclassified Information (was labeled "CUI" – controlled unclassified information). It was sent to senior Pentagon officials, senior military commanders, and heads of various defense agencies officials, top military commanders and the directors of numerous defense agencies). Shares of Palantir, Lockheed Martin, and several other defense companies plunged after the news was reported (stocks for Palantir, Lockheed Martin, and several other major defense contractors tumbled after The Post published news about Hegseth’s directive).
The Department of Defense quickly confirmed the news. According to a press release on February 21st, it will lay off between 5 and 8% of its civilian employees (reducing the Department's civilian workforce by 5-8%). It also announced that it would lay off 5, 400 interns starting on February 24. beginning next week).
Perhaps in a show of resolve, top US military officials have also joined the ranks of the unemployed. On the day the layoffs were announced, the Defense Department also officially announced Gen. Charles Quinton Brown Jr. , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Charles "CQ" Brown Jr. ) (The outgoing Chairman, Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown, Jr. , USAF), Admiral Lisa Francetti, Chief of Naval Operations (Lisa Marie Franchetti), The Air Force's deputy chief of staff, General James Slife, was relieved of his duties (Admiral Lisa Franchetti and General James). Slife, respectively, have had distinguished careers). Trump said on his social media account, Five more generals will be dismissed (solicit nominations for five additional high level positions). In response, the Associated Press (AP) reported on February 22 that. Admiral Brown's dismissal is sure to send shock waves through the Pentagon.
The Washington Post reported on February 22 that it had done more in-depth coverage of the firing of several senior officers, including Brown. According to the article, Trump and his supporters dismiss them for supporting "woke" diversity policies (them and other officials of putting). ” woke” diversity policies over the military’s primal responsibility to fight and win wars). The move drew the loudest criticism, Retired General Martin E. Dempsey (Martin E. ), who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for 18 terms during the Obama administration. Dempsey) (Retired Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, a Joint Chiefs chairman under President Barack Obama). "C. Q. General Brown is a good man and a good officer (General C. Q. ), " he said on his Linkedin account. Brown is a good man and a fine officer). It should be based on their leadership, integrity, performance, quality of advice, and willingness to faithfully carry out orders. based on their leadership, their integrity, their performance, the quality of their advice, and their willingness to faithfully execute the orders they are given)”, "The dismissal of senior officers is not due to the lack of these qualities, but to real or perceived differences in beliefs between the two sides. ” To relieve a senior officer not for a lack of one of these qualities, but for a real or perceived disagreement in their beliefs, harmfully politicizes the military profession). ”
According to another source, Admiral Franchetti, who was laid off, was the first woman to lead the Navy. It is also a "standard of conduct" that puts naval institutions above everything else. Prioritizing the institution of the Navy above all else) ". ” . In other words, a capable senior combatant commander.
Ironically enough, Brown and Franchetti were to be in Coachella Valley, California, on Saturday (February 22Valley Brown) at the Defence Technology Conference (both Brown and Franchetti had been scheduled to speak on Saturday at a)defense technology conference in California’s Coachella Valley Brown). The two generals learned of Trump's firing (They were informed of Trump's decision in) in a phone call from Defense Secretary Hageseth. separate phone calls from Hegseth just before the administration announced publicly that they were being removed). General Brown was still in Texas, visiting American troops working south of the border (in Texas at the time, having visited U. S. ). troops working on the southern border). And Franchetti is in California (Franchetti was in California when she received the news). He was suddenly "fired" when he was working hard.
General Brown's successor is retired Lieutenant General Dan "Racine" Cain (Dan "Razin" Caine) (Trump's move to remove). the chairman was immediately complicated by his chosen replacement: retired Lt. Gen. Dan“Razin” Caine). Before Kane retires in January 2025, He was an F-16 fighter pilot in the National Guard and a special operations commander in Iraq. Who departed the military in January after a career that included time as an officer in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)F-16 fighter pilot in the National Guard, a Special Operations commander in Iraq and a senior military officer at the CIA). But according to the regulations, he is not suitable. Under United States law, "Only" those who have served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, senior officer of a service, or commander of a major combatant command. In this case, S a president may appoint an officer to the chairmanship "only if" they have previously served as the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the top officer in one of the services or the commander of a major combatant command).
Kaine's appointment also has a lot of "Trump characteristics". For example, Trump has repeatedly said that during his visit to Iraq in 2018, He meets with Cain (the president has regaled audiences with a story about meeting Caine during a visit to Iraq in 2018). Cain wore a hat that read "Make America Great Again. ” And promised to kill for the president — a violation of the ban on political activity in military uniform (Caine, Trump claimed. donned a “Make America Great Again” hat and pledged he would kill for the president — statements that would have violated the military’s prohibition on political activity while in uniform). But John Bolton, a former national security adviser to Trump, told the Washington Post: He had never heard Cain say anything like that, he never heard Caine say anything along those lines. According to the article, Kane should have financial problems to solve (he will probably have finances to disentangle before becoming chairman). His recent partners include Shield Capital, which focuses on network security and artificial intelligence investment. And Thrive Capital, which invests in software companies (Among recent affiliations are work with Shield Capital; a company focused on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, and Thrive Capital, a group that invests in software companies).
Since senior officers can be laid off, the rest of the officers and men have the same fate. According to a press release issued by the US Department of Defense on February 28, In accordance with the Additional Guidance to Prioritize Military Excellence and Readiness issued on February 26, 2025 (Additional Guidance on Prioritizing. Military Excellence and Readiness) Policy Memorandum (In a Feb 26, 2025 policy memorandum titled “Additional Guidance on Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness”), The Department of Defense will lay off transgender service members from all branches of the armed forces (will be separated from the military. . ). related to gender dysphoria). If they are not exempted, they will all be discharged soon (If they don't obtain a waiver, service members with gender dysphoria are disqualified from military service and must be processed for separation). In the case of involuntary separation, not only is the compensation low, and may seek reimbursement for any bonuses received (who choose to be separated involuntarily will be eligible for involuntary). separation pay, which is less than voluntary separation pay. Those service members may be required to pay back any bonuses they received). The policy requires that affected servicemembers be identified within 30 days. Once the object is determined, the policy directs the identification of affected service members within 30 days. Once identified, separation procedures will begin within 30 days).
On the same day that the memo was released, people familiar with the matter told Reuters that Lieutenant General Telita Crosland of the United States Army, who served for 32 years
Forced to retire on Friday (U. S. Army Lieutenant General Telita Crosland.. ). was forced to retire on Friday). Crosland is the head of the U. S. military health department (the head of the military's health agency). She is also one of the most senior black female officers in the US Army (and one of the most senior Black female officers in the Army). But a current and former official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Crosland was told she had to retire. And there is no reason.
If we say that the action against the military has caused a storm in the city. Then the layoffs of the intelligence system are even more shocking. As early as February 4, 2025, the Wall Street Journal reported that the CIA was the first to tell employees. If they resign, they will receive eight months' pay and benefits from the CIA appeared to be the first intelligence agency to. tell its employees that they can quit their jobs and receive about eight months of pay and benefits). Not long after, on February 28, CNN wrote that China, Russia and other countries are trying to recruit US intelligence employees who have been laid off or are about to be laid off (Foreign adversaries including Russia and China have recently directed their intelligence services to ramp up recruiting of US federal employees working in national security, targeting those who have been fired or feel they could be soon). The article quoted a document from the US Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS, Naval Criminal Investigative Service). The intelligence community is "highly confident" that in the context of the Trump administration's massive layoffs. Foreign adversaries are recruiting these people (the intelligence community assessed with "high confidence" that foreign adversaries). We’re trying to recruit federal employees and “capitalize” on the Trump administration’s plans for mass layoffs). Anonymous told CNN, "It doesn't take much imagination to figure out that the dumped federal employees have a wealth of knowledge. ” An attractive target for an adversary's intelligence service (It doesn't take a lot of imagination to see that these cast aside federal). workers with a wealth of institutional knowledge represent staggeringly attractive targets to the intelligence services of our competitors and adversaries). "This is not a reality show (This isn't reality TV), " said another retired intelligence official. ” There are consequences. ”
According to Reuters on March 7, The Central Intelligence Agency fired a slew of recent hires this week. These trainee employees have only been with the agency for two years or less (The probationary employees who were terminated had only). been working for the agency for two years or less). The interns, who had worked in several different departments, were fired due to performance issues (The recent CIA hires, known as probationary employees, worked across a number of different portfolios and were fired because of performance issues). The person declined to say how many were dismissed, but said it was a significant number. but said it was more than a few). After reviewing interviews and documents, Reuters said: Federal workers who were fired for alleged poor performance as part of Trump's remaking of the federal government received excellent performance reviews before they were terminated).
A US intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that if it continued, It will take years to recover the firings, if continued, would take years to recover. ” A gap like this would irreparably damage our ability to carry out vital national security missions in the years ahead, " he said. gap like this would cause irreparable damage to our ability to conduct our essential national security missions for years to come). "Daniel Hoffman, a former senior official in the CIA's covert operations division (CIA clandestine services), said: "Daniel Hoffman, a former senior CIA clandestine services officer, knew about the firings but not the details. said he was aware of the firings but did not know the details). Layoffs during the Clinton administration, he said, "left the intelligence community reeling. . ” Then came the 9/11 attacks, we were caught off guard (decimated the intelligence community. . ). and then we had the 9/11 attacks, and we were caught flat-footed). So what can be saved and what are the risks of hiring the next batch of people? What are the savings here and what are the risks we are running by lopping off the next generation of hires)？”
The US Embassy, which also carries a large number of intelligence functions, has also suffered unprecedented large-scale unrest. According to The New York Times on March 6, 2025, Senior State Department officials plan to close a dozen overseas consulates by the summer of 2025. And additional mission are being consider for closure (Senior State Department officials have drawn up plans to close a dozen consulates overseas). by this summer and are considering shutting down many more missions). At the same time, many local citizens working for its hundreds of missions will also be laid off. The department also plans to lay off many local citizens who work for its hundreds of missions. Those workers make up two-thirds of the agency’s work force).
According to the article, there are officials from military, intelligence, law enforcement, health, commerce, trade, finance and other agencies in the embassy. They are designed to monitor developments in the host country and to work with local officials (Embassies house officers from the military, intelligence, law enforcement, health, commerce, trade, treasury and other agencies, all of whom monitor developments in the host nation and work with local officials). The prospect of wide cuts has already generated some anxiety within the Central Intelligence Agency). The article acknowledges that the vast majority of U. S. undercover intelligence officers work in embassies and consulates, disguised as diplomats. The vast majority of undercover American intelligence officers work out of embassies and consulates, posing as diplomats, and the closure of diplomatic posts would reduce the C. I. A. ’s options for where to position its spies).
There is currently a five-week course aimed at senior career diplomats, including ambassadors, who choose to retire. The number is about 160. This is one of the largest retiree groups in recent years (A current five-week course mainly for senior career diplomats; including ambassadors, choosing to retire has about 160 people in it, one of the largest cohorts of retiring officers in recent memory). In the first two months of 2025, About 700 employees — 450 of them career diplomats — have resigned handed in resignation papers in the first two months of this year). By comparison, in the previous year, about 800 people quit their jobs (Before 2025, about 800 people had resigned over an entire year). The move is aimed at cutting part of the State Department's operating budget. May be as high as 20% (part of an internal campaign to reduce the State Department's operations budget, perhaps by as much as 20 percent). The team led by Elon Musk accelerated the plan (The process has been AC celerated by a team led by Elon Musk).
Three other officials familiar with the matter said there was a memo circulating within the State Department proposing the closure of more than a dozen consulates. Mainly in Western Europe (A memo circulating within the department proposes closing a dozen consulates, mainly in Western Europe; according to three U. S. officials who have seen or been briefed on the memo). The list includes consulates in Florence, Italy; Strasbourg, France; Hamburg, Germany; and Ponta Delgada, Portugal includes consulates in Florence, Italy; Strasbourg, France; Hamburg, Germany; and Ponta Delgada, Portugal). Interestingly, according to a study by the Lowy Institute, The United States' global diplomatic posts lag behind China's in Europe China’s 274, but the United States currently has an edge in Europe, according to a study by the Lowy Institute). The State Department last month informed two congressional committees of the consulate's closure. On Monday (March 3), State Department officials also told two congressional committees, the State Department notified two congressional committees last month of, the closures. And on Monday, department officials told the committees), The consulate in Gaziantep, Turkey, will also be closed. The consulate mainly faces Syria (they also planned to close a consulate in Gaziantep, Turkey, which has been a hub for U.S. ). officials to work with refugees from neighboring Syria and humanitarian aid groups there).
In mid-February 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent a memorandum to the missions of various countries. The requirement to ensure that personnel stationed abroad are "kept to the minimum necessary to implement the President's foreign policy priorities" (In mid-February, p. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent a memo to chiefs of mission, who are usually ambassadors, telling them to ensure that staffing at overseas posts was” kept to the minimum necessary to implement the president’s foreign policy priorities. ”). Any post left vacant for two years should be abolished (any positions left vacant for two years should be abolished). While reviewing all contracts that cost $10, 000 to $250, 000, To match Musk's work. In addition, the relevant departments of the State Department are preparing for more layoffs. At present, there are about 80000 employees in this department, of which 50000 are local citizens. The rest, about 14, 000, are trained diplomats who take turns working overseas. Another 13, 000 are civil servants, mostly in Washington (The department has about 80, 000 employees; with 50, 000 of those local citizens abroad. Of the rest, about 14, 000 are trained diplomats who rotate overseas, called Foreign Service officers and specialists, and 13, 000 are members of the Civil Service and work mostly out of Washington).
If possible, some regional bureaus of the State Council will be merged (proposed merging some of the department's regional bureaus). These directorates are managed by the Assistant Secretary and oversee policies and operations across a wide swath of the globe. Those are run by assistant secretaries in Washington and oversee policy and operations across large swaths of the globe. The bureaus are central to American diplomacy).
It can be said that the U. S. military intelligence and diplomatic system, from personnel to command structure, to the local resources accumulated over the years. Have been dealt an extraordinary blow. The effect of destruction and subversion far exceeds the impact of large-scale war. And this layoff has a strong brand of Trump's own thinking. This can be seen in Trump's State of the Union address (The State of Union) delivered on March 5.
Three, Trump's Thoughts from the State of the Union Address
On March 3, before Trump's State of the Union address, NPR and PBS jointly sponsor Marist Poll), conducted for the Trump administration from February 24 to 26, 2025 (This survey of U. S. adults was conducted from February 24th through February 26th, 2025 by the Marist Poll sponsored in partnership with NPR and PBS News). A total of 1694 people participated in the poll. There were 1533 registered voters (Results for all adults (n = 1, 694) are statistically significant within ± 2. 8 percentage points. Results for registered voters (n=1, 533) are statistically significant within ±3. 0 percentage points). According to the poll, A majority (53%) of Americans say the state of the union is not very strong or not strong at all), 54% of U. S. adults believe the country is headed in the wrong direction (54% of U. S. adults believe the country is moving in the wrong direction). Forty-five percent of Americans believe President Trump is leading the country in a direction that is changing for the better. 48% disapprove. While 7% said no real change (45% of American describe the direction in which President Trump is moving the country as change for the better. 48%, though, say the direction is change for the worse. Seven percent say there has been no real change at all).
With regard to layoffs, 60% of residents believe most federal government employees are essential to the functioning of the United States employees are essential to the functioning of the United States). 39% of residents have a favorable view of Elon Musk and 50% have a negative view. 11% were unsure or had never heard of him (39% of residents have a favorable opinion of Elon Musk. 50% have an unfavorable opinion of Musk, and 11% are either unsure or have never heard of him). With regard to DOGE, 44% had a negative view. Thirty-nine percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of the Ministry, and 17% have either never heard of DOGE, Or not sure how to score it (When looking at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), 44% have an unfavorable opinion of DOGE. 39% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the department, and 17% have either never heard of DOGE or are unsure how to rate it).
Notably, 63% of United States residents oppose or strongly oppose the elimination of the United States Department of Education (63% of U. S. ). residents either oppose or strongly oppose getting rid of the U. S. Department of Education). That includes 87% of Democrats and 64% of independents. By contrast, 37% of residents, including 65% of Republicans, either strongly support, either support the abolition of the department (this includes 87% of Democrats and 64% of independents. In contrast, 37% of residents, including 65% of Republicans, either strongly support or support abolishing the department).
Obviously, the Ministry of Education has not avoided major layoffs. According to a press release from the U. S. Department of Education, On March 11, the department will start its retrenchment program (initiated a reduction in force (RIF) impacting nearly 50% of the Department's). workforce). All divisions within the Department are impacted by the reduction. with some divisions requiring significant reorganization). The size of the department will be reduced from 4, 133 to approximately 2, 183 (the Department's workforce stood at 4, 133 workers). After today’s actions, the Department’s workforce will total roughly 2, 183 workers), That is, 50% of the department's employees were laid off (impacting nearly 50% of the Department's workforce). Affected employees will be placed on administrative leave beginning next Friday, March 21. And receive full pay and benefits until June 9th, and substantial severance pay or retirement benefits based upon their length of service. In addition, included in the reduction in force are nearly 600 employees who have voluntarily resigned and retired in the past seven-week employees who accepted voluntary resignation opportunities and retirement over the last seven weeks), This includes 259 employees who accepted the deferred resignation plan. 313 employees accepted the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment.
This poll also shows that the differences in public opinion in the United States are quite serious. In this context, Trump's State of the Union address in 2025 also mentioned layoffs at considerable length. The most noteworthy points in the article are as follows:
For one thing, he thinks highly of himself, and "the first month of our presidency. . ” . The most successful month in the history of our country (it has been stated by many that the first month of our presidency. . ). is the most successful in the history of our nation). ” What's more impressive is, do you know who the second is? George Washington (And what makes it even more impressive is that do you know who No. 2 is? George Washington). ”
Second, they are proud of the big layoffs. Mr. Trump said: I immediately imposed a freeze on all federal hiring, a freeze on all new federal regulations, and a freeze on all foreign aid. Upon taking office, I imposed an immediate freeze on all federal hiring, a freeze on all new federal regulations and a freeze on all foreign aid). ”
Third, I am very satisfied with Musk and DOGE. "I have created a new Ministry of Government Efficiency, " he said. DOGE. (I have created the brand-new Department of Government Efficiency. DOGE)”, "A team led by a very smart, mostly young Elon found, exposed and quickly stopped more fraud. ” Many more have been found out and exposed and swiftly terminated by a group of very intelligent, mostly young people headed up by Elon, and we appreciate it). ”
Fourthly, Trump is determined to solve the fiscal fraud. The Government Accountability Office, a federal government office, estimates thatWe have over $500 billion in fraud in this country every year (The Government Accountability Office, the federal government office, has estimated annual fraud of over $500 billion in our nation). "To emphasize his point, he said that according to the data of Social Security databases in the United States. ” 1. 3 million people from ages 150 to 159, and over 130, 000 people, according to the Social Security databases, are age over 160 years old. "" Including, to finish, 1, 039 people between the ages of 220 and 229. One person between the age of 240 and 249 — and one person is listed at 360 years of age. So he concluded, "it really hurts Social Security, it really hurts our country. ”
Finally, he threatened the US bureaucracy, saying, "But we will find out where the money is. ” Any federal bureaucrat who resists this change will be immediately removed from office. Because we're draining the swamp. It's very simple. The era of unelected bureaucracy is over (And any federal bureaucrat who resists this change will be removed from office). immediately. Because we are draining the swamp. It’s very simple. And the days of rule by unelected bureaucrats are over). ”
It can be said that Trump has his own wise governing philosophy and will not care about the criticism in the United States. As he said at the end of his State of the Union address: "Because America's golden age has just begun (get ready for an incredible future). ” because the golden age of America has only just begun). "The political ecology of the United States that he has broken is triggering a tsunami reaction at all levels of American society. ” .
Four, the internal contradictions of the US government caused by the big layoffs.
The most indicative event of this big layoff, "What did you do last week?" Federal employees received on February 22. Email for. It is required that all employees, without reference to confidential information (Please do not send any classified information, link, List the 5 work points (5 bullets of what you accomplished last week) of the last week. And send a message by 11: 59 p. m. EST on Monday, February 24. According to a report by Bloomberg on February 23, the email was sent to more than 2 million federal employees.
On the day the email was sent, Trump also expressed support for it in his social media. And stressed "We have a country to save". Then Musk said on his social platform X on February 23 and 25, respectively, that what he did was based on Trump's instructions. I gave these employees a chance to explain.
Naturally, the move drew firm resistance from federal employees and agencies. According to Reuters and Bloomberg on February 24, FBI and State Department sent their staff emails telling them not to respond outside their chains of command), the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Education, and Ministry of Commerce, as well as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Internal Revenue Service, Workers at the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Education and Commerce, as well as at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National Institutes of Health and the Internal Revenue Service also were told not to respond pending further guidance), Managers at various NASA groups are telling employees to hold off on responding to an email sent on Elon Musk's orders), National Center for Environmental Information (To be clear – this is irregular, unexpected, and warrants further validation, "Wrote a senior executive at the National Centers for Environmental Information) tell the employee not to respond to the email. ” .
As early as February 3, Edward Robert Martin Jr. , the U. S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. ” We must protect the safety of all our U. S. government employees and we must protect American property, " he wrote to Musk. Production safety (we must keep all our American government employees safe and we must protect the American people's property). ” The implication is to tell Musk not to go too far. ” .
Even DOGE's internal staff can't bear to see such a drastic layoff. Formerly the United States Digital Services Bureau (U. S. ). Twenty-one employees of Digital Service wrote anonymously to Susan Wiles, the White House chief of staff, on February 25. He said he would resign in protest.” On February 16th, DOGE representatives began integrating us into their efforts. DOGE's actions-firing technical experts, mishandling sensitive data, and breaking critical systems. ”
According to Reuters on March 6, more than 700 people have signed onto the letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Protest against the dissolution of USAID (Hundreds of diplomats at the State Department and U. S. ). Agency for International Development have written a letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio protesting the dismantling of USAID). "The decision to freeze and terminate foreign aid contracts and aid awards without any meaningful review, " the letter read. It jeopardizes our partnerships with key allies, erodes trust, The decision to freeze and terminate foreign aid contracts and assistance awards without any meaningful review jeopardizes our partnerships with key allies, erodes trust, and creates openings for adversaries to expand their influence) ", " foreign aid is not charity. Rather, it is a strategic tool to stabilize the region, prevent conflict, and promote US interests. ”
According to Reuters on March 6 and 7, Christopher Serec, chief of staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs Syrek) sent a memo to senior agency officials on Tuesday (March 4). To control the staff to 400000 is to lay off 82000 people (The VA's chief of staff, Christopher Syrek, sent a memo to senior agency officials on Tuesday, telling them the goal was to return the agency to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400, 000. That would mean cutting about 82, 000 staff). This means that the Ministry has reduced its staff on a much larger scale than other government institutions (The scale of the planned layoffs at the VA is far greater than). proposed cuts at other government agencies).
And on the evening of March 5, amid the sound of welcome, Arizona Attorney General Kris Meyers, a Democrat Mayes) and their counterparts in New Mexico, Oregon, and Minnesota (Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, Vol. and counterparts from New Mexico, Oregon and Minnesota were greeted with cheers), Assemble Arizona farm groups and veteran 'groups, Arizona farm groups and veterans brought together by Democratic attorneys general in Phoenix lashed out at U. S. President Donald Trump's federal cuts). In front of an audience of 400, Tim Cox, Air Force veteran and federal worker Cox held up the "2025 Plan" cited by Trump and Musk for layoffs at the meeting and said: "In less than two months, This administration has proven itself to be the most anti-veterans administration (To boos and jeers from an audience of around 400 people at the Phoenix meeting, U. S. Air Force veteran and federal worker Tim Cox held up a section of the Project 2025 plan he said Trump and billionaire Elon Musk were using to slash the federal bureaucracy). ”
The impact of the big layoffs soon created a rift within the Trump administration. According to the New York Times on March 7, in a special cabinet room on Thursday (March 6), A fierce clash broke out between US Secretary of State Rubio and Musk. The reason is that after Musk's team shut down the U. S. Agency for International Development controlled by Rubio, Rubio has been angry with the former in private. Rubio had been privately furious with Mr. Musk for weeks, ever since his team effectively shuttered an entire agency that was supposedly under Mr. Rubio’s control). Mr. Musk accused Mr. Rubio of not firing "anyone" (You have fired "nobody, " Mr. Musk told Mr. "). Rubio retorted, Do the more than 1, 500 State Department officials who were bought out and retired early count? (What about the more than 1, 500 State Department officials who took early retirement in buyouts? Didn’t they count as layoffs? ). The world's richest man told the secretary of state that he was "good on TV", with the subtext that he was otherwise useless (Mr. Musk was unimpressed. He told Mr. Rubio he was “good on TV, ” with the clear subtext being that he was not good for much else). After a period of stalemate between the two sides, Trump stepped in to defend Rubio. Calling him "well done" (After the argument dragged on for an uncomfortable time, Mr. Trump finally intervened to defend Mr. ). Rubio as doing a “great job. ” ). Interestingly, Trump looked on the whole time as if he were watching a tennis match (Throughout all of this: the president sat back in his chair, arms folded, as if he were watching a tennis match). Later, Trump also indicated on his social media that the relationship between the two men was not a problem.
In order to appease the cabinet members, Trump also encouraged them. According to Reuters on March 6, US President Donald Trump told his cabinet members that they, It is not Elon Musk who has the final say on the staffing and policies of their agencies (U. S. ). President Donald Trump told his cabinet members on Thursday that they, not Elon Musk, have the final say on staffing and policy at their agencies).
Now that there is so much talk in the US government, we should realize that. In the near future, unknowable events within the United States will become inevitable.
Five, Is DOGE's Big Layoff a Revolution or a Storm Coming
On March 6, 2025, Challenger, a veteran professional research organization in the United States and a partner of mainstream media such as Reuters and the Associated Press, Gray & Christmas released a study of the impact of DOGE on the job market. In February 2025, employers in the United States announced 172. 17 million layoffs. It is the highest monthly total since July 2020 when 262, 649 cuts were announced. February's total is a 245% increase from the 49, 795 cuts announced one month prior. It is a 103% increase from the 84, 638 cuts announced in the same month last year.
Challenger, Andrew Challenger, Senior Vice President and Workplace Specialist, Gray & Christmas"Private companies announced thousands of jobs cuts last month, particularly in the retail and technology sectors, " Challenger said. The impact of DOGE's actions, as well as the cancellation of government contracts, concerns about trade wars and bankruptcies, Private companies announced plans to shed thousands of jobs last month. particularly in Retail and Technology. With the impact of the Department of Government Efficiency [DOGE] actions, as well as canceled Government contracts, the fear of trade wars, and bankruptcies, job cuts soared in February ", " The government seems to want to cut more jobs, But the order to fire about 200, 000 probationary employees was blocked by a federal judge. It remains to be seen how many more workers will lose federal jobs (It appears the administration wants to cut even more workers, but an order to fire the roughly 200, 000 probationary employees was blocked by a federal judge. It remains to be seen how many more workers will lose their Federal Government roles)”, "Mass layoffs often leave the remaining employees feeling uneasy and uncertain. ” . There is a high probability that more employees will voluntarily leave their jobs (When mass layoffs occur, it often leaves remaining staff feeling uneasy and uncertain. The likelihood that many more workers leave voluntarily is high). ”
The report points out that "DOGE Impact" is the first major reason for layoffs this year, resulting in 63. 583 million layoffs. There are not only federal employees, but also contractors who have directly laid off workers. Downstream impacts also include the loss of funds for private non-profit organizations. Resulting in another 894 layoff plans ( "DOGE Impact" leads job cut reasons this year and was attributed to 63, 583 layoffs. "Both directly to the Federal workforce and to contractors. Downstream impacts of DOGE, such as loss of funding to private Non-Profits, led to another 894 job cut plans).
Thus, the layoffs promoted by DOGE and the Trump administration have had a profound impact on American society. And the impact is still a dynamic process, and its destructive effect is still accumulating. By the end of the DOGE mission on July 4, 2026, political polarization and financial market turmoil will be magnified by massive federal layoffs. If not controlled, the possibility of systemic risk in the United States may be earlier.
The structural damage of the military intelligence system will inevitably occur because of the large-scale layoffs. The paralysis of the diplomatic system will also lead to a significant decline in the influence of the United States on the political situation of other countries. With the decline of the control of the United States over the world, the powerful local powers around the world will inevitably fill the power vacuum. The outbreak of more intense regional conflicts is not nonsense.
So many laid-off federal employees and groups whose interests have been harmed are not just marching and protesting. It can even be said that the real powerful interest groups are quietly waiting for the Trump government reform to touch the interests of more people. As the saying goes, the wall falls and everyone pushes (when a wall is about to collapse, everybody gives it a shove). At that time, the interests of more groups will be damaged, and it is obvious that there will be a very strong backlash in American society. From a certain point of view, Trump's acceleration of reform is to seize the right to speak with this powerful force. It becomes a game of who can seize the opportunity.
2026 is also the year of mid-term elections in the United States. If the government reform cannot be completed thoroughly, the social economy cannot get new impetus for development. If the unemployment problem is superimposed on the unemployment tide of federal employees, the Trump administration will obviously be suspended in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Even if we want to transfer contradictions to the outside world, the military, intelligence and diplomatic systems will be completely paralyzed. It makes color revolution or military intervention more difficult, not to mention winning from an imaginary strong enemy.
But if we want to transfer contradictions, the Trump administration can think of the best way to transfer contradictions. What can be chosen at that time is only the goal that is easy to start and can also achieve short-term achievements. At present, there are suitable targets in the central and western parts of the Eurasian continent. As for the specific way, it only depends on the size of the Trump administration's difficulties. The president, who has been bankrupt many times, is not short of gambling.
But for now, Musk, the head of DOGE, is not only in the limelight. And recently welcomed a fourth child (Billionaire Elon Musk and) with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis. Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis have announced the birth of their fourth child together) and his 15th child. Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger famously said that Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.
