Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
The Mujahideen Movement: The two were killed along with dozens of others from their family in a cowardly Zionist assassination that targeted the Sabra neighborhood today
The Palestinian Mujahideen Movement mourns the martyrdom of its Secretary-General, Asaad Attiya Abu Sharia "Abu Al-Sheikh", along with his brother Ahmad
Abu Zaid: I believe that the Iranian operation was multi-layered, combining cyber and electronic attacks with coordinated on-the-ground infiltrations by agents
Abu Zaid: Usually, archives of such sensitivity are typically protected by a full-scale security system, but it appears that Iranian intelligence managed to make use of a gap in it
Strategic military expert Nidal Abu Zaid: Iran has stripped "Israel" of the superiority and deterrence long boasted by its security minister, chief of staff, and other top officials
Fallahpour: Iran may use these documents in its battle with the United States and Western countries over its nuclear program
Fallahpour: Iran may have obtained additional documents related to "Israel's" regional projects, not just its nuclear program
Fallahpour: The coming weeks will be full of surprises, as Iran has forced Israeli intelligence agencies into a state of psychological exhaustion
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Tehran, Siavash Fallahpour: Iran has redefined the concept of deterrence, shifting it away from traditional military balance toward a new strategic framework
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Number of documents so great that merely studying them, along with accompanying images and footage will require a great deal of time.

Trump, Musk cut 9,500+ federal jobs, more layoffs expected: Reuters

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Feb 2025 23:29
4 Min Read

The restructuring effort has been largely shaped by Elon Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team has conducted sweeping job audits across federal agencies.

Listen
  • x
  • President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, en route to West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
    President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, en route to West Palm Beach, Fla (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Reuters on Friday reported that thousands of federal employees across multiple US government agencies have been dismissed as part of President Donald Trump's sweeping effort to shrink the federal bureaucracy—a campaign spearheaded by his adviser, Elon Musk. The cuts, affecting departments responsible for nuclear security, public lands, and health programs, have already resulted in the loss of more than 9,500 jobs in the past week, with additional layoffs expected.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has been significantly affected, with between 1,200 and 2,000 employees dismissed, including hundreds working in the division that oversees the nation's nuclear stockpile. The Department of the Interior has also seen substantial reductions, with 2,300 workers fired, impacting oversight of 500 million acres of public land, national parks, and offshore oil and gas leasing programs. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lost nearly one-third of its staff, approximately 1,300 employees, raising concerns about the country's ability to respond to public health emergencies. Additional dismissals have taken place at the Departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Education, and the Small Business Administration, with further cuts expected in regulatory agencies that oversee finance and industry.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) advised federal agencies to prioritize the dismissal of probationary employees, who make up a significant portion of recent hires and can be fired without extensive legal procedures. However, sources indicate that permanent staff may also be targeted in future rounds of layoffs.

Government Overhaul

Related News

US forest, national park services sack thousands of workers

Fed reports US economic slowdown amid efforts to tackle inflation

The scale of the dismissals has led to growing concerns about national security and government functionality. A former senior DOE official warned that reducing staff responsible for overseeing the US nuclear arsenal could create vulnerabilities in security and maintenance protocols. At the CDC, public health experts have cautioned that the loss of 1,300 employees could undermine the agency's ability to respond to future pandemics or bioterror threats. 

The restructuring effort has been largely shaped by Elon Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team has conducted sweeping job audits across federal agencies. Unlike traditional government reform initiatives, Musk has relied on tech engineers—many of whom lack experience in public administration—rather than experienced policy professionals. Critics argue that Musk's push to slash federal oversight aligns with his business interests in artificial intelligence, energy, and space exploration.

Steve Lenkart, executive director of the National Federation of Federal Employees, questioned the motives behind these cuts, stating, "That's really what this whole thing is really all about. It's getting government out of the way of industry and incredibly rich people, which is why Elon Musk is so excited about this."

Read more: Mass federal layoffs underway amid Trump, Musk US gov. purge

The layoffs have sparked legal and political challenges. Federal employee unions are preparing lawsuits arguing that the firings violate labor protections and due process rights. Congressional Democrats have accused Trump of overstepping executive authority, stating that only Congress has the power to regulate federal agency budgets. While Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, have largely supported the cuts, some have expressed concerns over Musk's expanding role in government decision-making.

Despite criticism, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed concerns over the mass layoffs, describing the firings as part of an "audit-like process" to improve efficiency. Speaking to Fox Business Network, he rejected what he called "hysteria" over the restructuring, insisting that the government must be run more like a lean private-sector business.

  • layoffs
  • Trump
  • Elon Musk
  • federal budget

Most Read

Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam meets with US envoy Morgan Ortagus in Beirut on April 5, 2025 (Dalati Nohra via AP)AP)

Morgan Ortagus to exit US role in Lebanon amid policy shift

  • Politics
  • 1 Jun 2025
A Palestinian woman mourns as she embraces the body of her daughter Mayar Abu Odeh, 8, who was killed in an Israeli army strike on Gaza. at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP)

French port workers block arms shipment to 'Israel' amid Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
New Syrian group claims Golan strike, vows resistance to 'Israel'

New Syrian group claims Golan strike, vows resistance to 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP)

Boston Consulting Group withdraws from GHF

  • Palestine
  • 3 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/pentagon-chief--nato-likely-to-back-trump-s-5--defence-spend
Politics

Europe spent $3 trillion on defense, but got little in return - FT

Power, parties, and scandal: Trump’s ties to Epstein: Telegraph
Europe

Power, parties, and scandal: Trump’s ties to Epstein - The Telegraph

Eilat port as seen from the sea, occupied Palestine, March 12 2009 (wikimedia commons)
Politics

YAF operations forced 80% plunge in Eilat port revenues in 2024

EU backs International Criminal Court after US sanctions judges
Europe

EU backs International Criminal Court after US sanctions judges

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS