January 20, 2025, marked a big day in Washington, D.C. Former President Donald Trump, now back in the Oval Office, wasted no time in shaking things up.
With a stroke of his pen, he launched a series of executive orders aimed at overhauling the federal government. And let’s just say, it wasn’t business as usual.
Cutting the Fat
First up, Trump put a freeze on hiring new federal workers. That means no more bloated payrolls and no more government jobs for the sake of government jobs.
It’s about time, right? Taxpayers are fed up with footing the bill for a federal workforce that keeps growing but doesn’t always deliver.
Trump also pulled the U.S. out of the Paris climate treaty—again. He argues it’s a raw deal for American businesses and workers.
Supporters are cheering, saying it’s a win for energy independence and economic growth. Critics, of course, are crying foul, calling it an environmental disaster.
Meet DOGE: The Deep State Buster
In a move that raised eyebrows, Trump created a new advisory group called the Department of Government Efficiency—DOGE for short.
Heading up the group? None other than Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy. Their mission: shrink the government and cut waste.
Trump is aiming for big savings—at least $2 trillion.
But not everyone’s on board. Lawsuits have already been filed, questioning the legality of the group’s operations. Meanwhile, career bureaucrats are sweating bullets.
Loyalty Check
Word on the street is that Trump’s team is putting federal employees under the microscope.
Career civil servants, especially those in the National Security Council, are being grilled about their past political donations and social media activity.
Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for National Security Adviser, is leading the charge to replace so-called “disloyal” employees with Trump supporters.
Some insiders say up to 80% of government managers could be shown the door.
Supporters argue that getting rid of bureaucrats who oppose the president’s policies is necessary to drain the swamp. Critics? They call it a dangerous political purge.
Schedule F is Back
If you remember Trump’s first term, you’ll recall Schedule F. This little-known policy would strip civil service protections from thousands of federal workers, making it easier to fire them.
President Biden scrapped it, but Trump is bringing it back—on day one.
The goal? More power to elected officials and less to unelected bureaucrats who’ve been running the show for too long.
Federal employee unions are already gearing up for a fight, promising to challenge Schedule F in court. But Trump isn’t backing down.
Fear in the Halls of Government
It’s no surprise that government workers are feeling the heat.
Some are scrubbing their social media profiles, hoping to avoid scrutiny. Others are quietly looking for jobs in the private sector before the axe falls.
One anonymous federal worker summed it up: “I’m just trying to keep my head down and do my job. But it’s hard when you don’t know if you’ll be out the door next week.”
The Bottom Line
Trump’s sweeping changes are exactly what his supporters wanted—less government, fewer regulations, and more accountability.
But the opposition isn’t going down without a fight. Legal challenges, media firestorms, and bureaucratic roadblocks are already mounting.
Whether Trump’s government purge is the start of real reform or just political theater, one thing is clear: Washington is in for a wild ride.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
