US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that obliges federal officials to develop plans for large-scale reductions in civil servants, and also expands the powers of Elon Musk and his team in solving issues regarding the hiring of new employees. About this informs he New York Times.
According to the new decree, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Musk, gets more powers in shaping the civil service. The Trump administration is looking to significantly reduce the number of federal officials, so executive departments are now required to get approval from Musk’s team to hire new employees. Exceptions are provided only for the military, as well as agencies dealing with immigration, law enforcement and public safety.
Each federal agency, with certain exceptions, is allowed to hire only one new employee for every four vacant positions. Hiring must be coordinated with the head of DOGE, and agencies cannot fill career positions that Musk’s team deems redundant unless an agency head outside of his team insists.
The decree also provides for the development of plans for large-scale staff reductions by federal agencies. Some executives have already been warned of future layoffs and urged to consider the Trump administration’s offer of voluntary retirement with pay by the end of September.
