By Aisha Muhammad Magaji
The White House has directed federal agencies to begin preparing for what officials describe as a “historic downsizing” of the U.S. federal workforce, in line with President Donald Trump’s renewed agenda to shrink government bureaucracy.
According to internal memos obtained by U.S. media outlets, agencies have been instructed to identify positions considered “non-essential” and to submit plans for potential layoffs over the coming months. The directive, which has sent shockwaves across Washington, could affect tens of thousands of government workers.
Senior administration officials argue that the move is necessary to cut costs, reduce what they see as bloated bureaucracies, and return power to state governments and the private sector.
“American taxpayers deserve a government that works for them, not against them,” a senior White House spokesperson said. “This restructuring will streamline federal operations, eliminate redundancy, and free resources for critical priorities like defense, border security, and infrastructure.”
The White House did not provide specific numbers on how many employees could lose their jobs, but insiders suggest that workforce cuts could range between 5% and 15% across several departments.
The directive has sparked widespread concern among federal workers, unions, and lawmakers. Agencies like the Department of Education, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are expected to be among the hardest hit, given the administration’s longstanding criticism of their roles.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal workers’ union, warned that mass layoffs would undermine the delivery of essential public services.
“This is not just an attack on workers it’s an attack on ordinary Americans who depend on federal agencies for everything from healthcare access to environmental protections,” AFGE President Everett Kelley said in a statement.
Democrats in Congress condemned the plan, calling it reckless and politically motivated. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described the move as “an assault on working families and the basic functions of government.”
Republicans, however, largely welcomed the decision. House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the administration’s directive, saying: “For too long, Washington has been a swamp of waste and inefficiency. This is a bold step toward restoring accountability.”
Policy analysts warn that the mass layoffs could have significant ripple effects across the U.S. economy, particularly in regions where federal employment is a major source of income.
Dr. Karen Williams, a public policy expert at Georgetown University, noted: “Beyond the politics, cutting tens of thousands of jobs at once could reduce consumer spending, weaken local economies, and destabilize federal programs.”
If implemented, the move would represent the largest federal workforce reduction in modern U.S. history. Previous administrations, including Ronald Reagan’s in the 1980s, pursued downsizing initiatives, but none on the scale currently envisioned.
Federal agencies are expected to submit their restructuring proposals within 60 days. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will then consolidate the recommendations before the president makes a final decision on the scope and timing of the layoffs.
Unions are already preparing legal challenges, while protests by federal workers are being planned in Washington and across the country.
For now, uncertainty looms over America’s two-million-strong civilian federal workforce with many anxiously waiting to see if their jobs will survive the administration’s sweeping overhaul.
