Trump directs federal job cuts as Musk defends downsizing
The reduction in force is the latest strategy Trump has employed — with the help of Musk — to reshape the federal government without Congress.
X Musk sits on the shoulders of his father, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, as they join U.S. President Donald Trump for an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is to sign an executive order implementing the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) “workforce optimization initiative,” which, according to Trump, will encourage agencies to limit hiring and reduce the size of the federal government.
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