A new report has revealed that nearly 150,000 federal workers have left under Trump since he returned to the presidency. The Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit organization, compiled the data to show how government agencies have been shrinking dramatically. The cuts, which began early in Trump’s term, have been described as aggressive and damaging by both civil service experts and labor unions.
Major Government Departments Affected
According to the analysis, some of the biggest losses happened in the Treasury, Agriculture, and Defense Departments, which lost approximately 31,000, 22,000, and 20,000 workers respectively. The Department of Health and Human Services also lost around 13,000 employees.
One of the most notable examples is the U.S. Agency for International Development, which reportedly lost 10,000 workers. Analysts believe this shows a clear effort to reduce government involvement in foreign assistance and humanitarian work.
Deferred Resignations and Early Retirement
The Trump administration used several strategies to downsize the workforce. These included early retirement offers, deferred resignation programs, and even forced relocations. Some workers were asked to move thousands of miles if they wanted to keep their jobs.
One particularly controversial move was the deferred resignation program, which allowed workers to resign but still get paid until September. According to a Washington Post report, the program currently covers 154,000 employees being paid while not working.
A judge allowed the program to proceed despite legal challenges from unions, and many workers took the offer during its second round. Some chose early retirement instead.
Key Concerns From Experts
Max Stier, president of the Partnership for Public Service, warned that the process was chaotic and damaging.
“We’re seeing repeated instances where they have, in a non-strategic way, let go [of] lots of people that provide vital functions,” he said.
“And then they look up and realize, ‘Wow, we’re not going to be able to do something that is quite important, and we’re going to have to rehire people.’”
Stier said many agencies are now trying to bring back staff who either quit or were pushed out. He described the process as wasteful, saying essential functions were harmed across multiple departments.
Billionaire Ally and Budget Waste
A portion of the cuts came from a newly created department known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Trump had placed Elon Musk, one of his billionaire allies, in charge of DOGE before their reported fallout.
On Thursday, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) released a report showing DOGE may have wasted $21.7 billion, most of it spent on programs like deferred resignation. The report stated that the Trump administration avoided transparency, making it harder for Congress to track the real numbers.
“The administration seems determined to keep Congress and the public in the dark,” Blumenthal’s report said.
Bottom Line
No matter how you look at it, nearly 150,000 federal workers leaving during Trump’s time is a big deal. Some left because they were pushed out, others took early retirement or quietly resigned. Either way, it’s changed how the government works and not necessarily for the better.
