In Washington these days, the words “government reform” mean something very specific: job cuts, office closures, and sweeping reorganizations. President Trump’s second-term push to significantly shrink the federal workforce—branded under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), formerly led by Elon Musk—is rapidly reshaping how agencies operate, and who stays employed.
Whether you see this as overdue streamlining or disruptive upheaval, here’s a breakdown of what’s happening across key federal agencies.
State Department
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a restructuring plan that will cut 3,448 domestic jobs—nearly 20% of the agency’s civil and foreign service positions in the U.S. Over 300 of its 734 bureaus will be merged, streamlined, or shut down.
This overhaul refocuses diplomatic priorities around “Western values” and free markets. A new Bureau of Democracy and Western Values will replace several existing human rights offices. Refugee affairs will shift toward repatriation policies, and offices focused on climate policy are being phased out.
Supporters say this will create a leaner, more agile department. Critics argue it sacrifices institutional knowledge and long-standing humanitarian missions.
Space Force
Once heralded as the Pentagon’s future-forward frontier, the U.S. Space Force is facing a 14% civilian workforce cut—a direct hit during what was supposed to be a period of rapid growth.
Gen. B. Chance Saltzman acknowledged the cuts were having an “outsized impact” on the youngest military branch. Many technical and administrative positions, filled by civilians, are now going unfilled or being eliminated.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the goal is to shrink the DoD’s civilian workforce by 5% to 8% overall.
DISA
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), which operates key defense networks, is seeing a 10% staff reduction. Lt. Gen. Paul Stanton told lawmakers the agency is using the moment to “ruthlessly realign” its cyber and communications missions.
More than half of DISA’s staff are contractors, and Stanton emphasized that strategic “surgical rehiring” will follow to retain cybersecurity and IT expertise.
This is a recurring theme across agencies: cut first, realign later.
Interior Department
Layoffs are looming across the Department of the Interior, particularly in agencies like the National Park Service (NPS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
With early retirements already draining capacity, additional “Reductions in Force” (RIFs) are expected soon—potentially reshaping or eliminating entire programs. Environmental offices, civil rights units, and renewable energy bureaus are all in the crosshairs.
Some observers fear a hollowing-out of public land management, while Interior officials say they’re working to preserve essential services like firefighting and visitor safety.
Education Department
Of all agencies, the Department of Education may be seeing the most dramatic change: nearly 50% of its staff—about 1,300 jobs—are being eliminated. Hundreds more took early retirement or buyouts.
Employees have been placed on administrative leave pending final separation, with agency functions expected to be consolidated or outsourced.
Veterans Affairs
The VA plans to return to its 2019 staffing level—a rollback of nearly 80,000 employees. The agency, already under pressure to reduce delays and expand care, says it will develop a formal RIF plan soon.
Veterans groups are watching closely, worried this could worsen backlogs or cut access to care, especially in rural areas.
Social Security, GSA
- Social Security Administration: Targeting a 7,000-person reduction, starting with voluntary exits, per a February 28 announcement.
- General Services Administration (GSA): The Public Buildings Service has already reduced over 1,000 workers, with more RIFs coming.
What Comes Next?
Even as agencies plan layoffs, they must issue 60-day notices and follow OPM’s 119-page reduction handbook. Some agencies are seeking waivers to fast-track these timelines.
Under the February workforce directive, all agencies must:
- Finalize headcount reduction plans
- Justify how the cuts improve service
- Submit monthly progress updates
- Complete the process by September 30
Expect more notices, more court battles, and more uncertainty ahead.
The Takeaway
No matter your political lean, these changes are historic in scale. For supporters, it’s long-overdue housecleaning of bloated bureaucracy. For critics, it’s the gutting of essential public services under the guise of “efficiency.”
What’s clear is this: the federal workforce—and how the government serves the public—is being reshaped, one pink slip at a time.
