US to drop around 300,000 federal workers in 2025: report

Trump earlier this year signed an Executive Order implementing the Department of Government Efficiency workforce optimisation initiative.

Its aim is to reduce the size of the government to “make the federal workforce more efficient and effective,” adding that it contributes significantly to spending and debt.

“In fiscal year 2022, the federal government spent nearly $300 billion on compensation for civilian employees, excluding pensions,” the White House said in a fact sheet.

In addition to layoffs, the government also ordered a hiring freeze this year that saw a nearly 70% drop in average new hires monthly.

According to OPM data, agencies averaged just 7,385 new hires per month once the freeze was implemented in February and March.