Trump Admin Issues Specifics of Historic Federal Workforce Reduction

The Trump administration issued a new memo directing agencies to submit specific plans for mass layoffs by March 13.

The directive, issued Wednesday by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), follows President Trump’s February 11 executive order mandating the reduction of non-essential government positions.

According to the memo, agencies must outline plans for a “maximum elimination of functions that are not statutorily mandated” while ensuring the highest-quality execution of legally required duties.

The memo makes it clear that the administration is looking to move quickly, noting that OPM has the authority to cut the usual 60-day layoff notification period in half.

This means that agencies acting swiftly could begin issuing layoff notices as early as April.

Agencies have been instructed to work closely with their Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team leads to identify positions for elimination. Suggested targets for cuts include:

• Positions “not typically designated as essential during a lapse in appropriations.”
• The closure or consolidation of regional field offices.
• The reduction of outside consultants and contractors.
• Consideration of whether entire agencies or subcomponents should be eliminated or merged.
• The use of automation to replace redundant government tasks.

Roles related to law enforcement, national security, the military, and the U.S. Postal Service are exempt from layoffs. Likewise, political appointees and White House staff remain unaffected.

Federal Unions Cry Foul

Predictably, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union, is in full panic mode, issuing dire warnings of chaos and service disruptions.

“Laying off potentially hundreds of thousands of federal workers will mean fewer services at higher costs for the American taxpayer,” the union claimed in a statement.

“Longer waits at VA hospitals, fewer inspectors ensuring the safety of our meats and produce, less research into cures for debilitating and deadly diseases, more risks for air travelers, longer waits for Social Security enrollment and passports, and the list goes on.”

In reality, however, these scare tactics fail to acknowledge the massive inefficiencies and redundancies that have plagued the federal government for decades.

Trump’s supporters argue that reducing bureaucratic waste will lead to a leaner, more accountable system—one that prioritizes taxpayers rather than unelected career bureaucrats who often obstruct real reform.

Phase Two: Full Implementation by April 14

Following the submission of workforce reduction plans in March, agencies will enter phase 2 by April 14, when they must submit a full list of employees slated for termination or relocation.

Departments providing direct services to the public must outline how the restructuring will benefit American citizens.

Once that step begins, agencies can start issuing formal layoff notices, with OPM granting the option to shorten the notification window from 60 days to 30 days.

Veteran status and past performance will be considered when making termination decisions.