WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is set to shed around 300,000 federal workers this year, according to Scott Kupor, the new head of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This would represent a 12.5% reduction in the federal workforce since January. Kupor emphasized that 80% of these job losses will be voluntary, while only 20% will result from forced terminations. This figure nearly doubles the 154,000 workers who voluntarily left their posts in a previous buyout program, as reported by Reuters last month.
Upon taking office in January, President Donald Trump launched a sweeping campaign to shrink the 2.4-million-strong federal civilian workforce, which he claims is bloated and inefficient. Trump has consistently argued that the government is overstaffed, with many positions not contributing effectively to the execution of public policy.
In a recent interview, Kupor said, "I cannot force people to lay people off," adding that his role would primarily involve persuading cabinet secretaries to align with his vision of improving government efficiency.
These comments contrast sharply with actions taken in the first few months of Trump’s second term, when OPM leadership explicitly directed agencies to dismiss employees new to their roles, according to court filings.
If Kupor’s estimate holds, the number of federal workers leaving voluntarily will more than double the 5.9% attrition rate in the U.S. government’s civilian workforce in fiscal year 2023, the latest available figures from the non-profit Partnership for Public Service.
While Kupor declined to share headcount statistics for specific agencies, he confirmed that OPM would release those figures later. As part of this process, government agencies will submit proposals for further cuts to Russ Vought, Director of the White House Budget Office, as President Trump prepares his next budget request to Congress. Kupor mentioned that he had met with Vought’s office on Wednesday to discuss future plans.
The Trump administration’s drive to reduce the federal workforce is not just an administrative move; it’s part of a broader push to overhaul the functioning of the U.S. government. The proposed cuts have sparked significant debate, particularly concerning the potential impact on public services and national security. Critics argue that reducing the size of the federal workforce could lead to a decline in service quality, particularly in areas like Social Security, healthcare, and public education, which rely on skilled personnel to maintain effective service delivery.
For many workers, the announcement has created a sense of uncertainty. A young federal employee, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed concern about the future of his career. Having worked for the federal government for five years, he expected to be on a path to promotion. However, the prospect of such large-scale layoffs has left him uncertain about his job security. “It’s difficult to stay motivated when you don’t know if the job will even be there in six months,” he said.
The move also reflects Trump’s broader vision for the federal government, where efficiency and digital modernization are central goals. Rather than simply trimming the workforce, the administration aims to restructure government operations, prioritizing performance and results over bureaucratic size. This shift will likely increase the workload for remaining employees, who may face greater pressure to deliver results amid fewer colleagues.
This situation presents a paradox: while the administration seeks a leaner and more efficient government, there’s the very real risk that these cuts will compromise the ability of federal agencies to perform their core functions. As such, questions about the impact of such cuts on the public and the stability of key institutions remain a major point of contention.
The looming changes have already started affecting those leaving government service. Many employees who choose to take buyouts or voluntary retirements are finding themselves in a challenging job market.
While some transition to the private sector or non-governmental organizations, they often have to adjust to new professional environments and cultures that differ greatly from the public sector. For those who choose to stay in government, the pressure to excel in an increasingly results-driven environment is likely to intensify.
The broader consequences for the U.S. job market could be profound. While the private sector has experienced strong job growth in recent years, it remains unclear whether it can absorb the newly displaced federal workers quickly enough. The transfer of highly skilled labor from public to private sector positions will require careful management, particularly as the nature of federal work differs significantly from that in the corporate world.
The Trump administration’s approach to downsizing the federal workforce is clearly a significant shift in U.S. government policy, with implications that will ripple across various sectors. Whether or not this aggressive workforce reduction will lead to a more efficient government is uncertain, and its success will depend largely on how well agencies can adapt to the new system. Regardless of the outcome, this unprecedented workforce reduction will remain a central issue in American politics for years to come.