Trump Cuts 322,000 Federal Jobs in First Year

President Donald Trump reduced the federal workforce by 322,049 employees during his first year back in office, the largest such reduction in two decades. The administration achieved these cuts through a combination of buyouts, reductions in force, and the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion offices. The Office of Personnel Management reported that approximately 149,500 employees resigned after being offered eight months of pay and benefits, while others departed via retirements and layoffs.

Central to this effort was the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), guided by Elon Musk. The initiative targeted waste and fraud, leading to the effective elimination of agencies including the U.S. Agency for International Development—which saw a 92% staff decline—and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Trump also signed executive orders to dismantle the Department of Education. Despite these reductions, the administration hired 68,000 new employees, and the national debt grew by over $2.2 trillion to more than $38 trillion.

Trump defended the purges in January 2026, claiming ousted workers transitioned into higher-paying private sector jobs. However, Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed a rise in the jobless rate to 4.6% in November 2025, with significant unemployment spikes in states like Maryland and Wisconsin. While the administration claimed $215 billion in savings, reports indicate federal spending actually increased from $6.95 trillion to over $7 trillion in 2025. Other first-year actions included restricting gender-affirming care for minors and targeting 650,000 ICE deportations.