The federal government’s human resources agency told agencies last week to submit plans to drastically reduce their staff size by March 13. The seven-page memo from the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management leaves implementation of the White House’s vision to the agencies but instructs directors to “collaborate with their [Department of Government Efficiency] DOGE team leads.” The moves come as the administration doubles down on President Donald Trump’s February 11 mandate to “eliminat[e] waste, bloat, and insularity,” reports The Washington Post.
Asked about how the mandates might impact the FCC, Chairman Brendan Carr told reporters after Thursday’s meeting, he had “no specific numbers” to publicize at this time. He explained, “As a general matter we are looking to drive greater efficiencies out of the FCC’s operations and we are undergoing a review of the various contracts that the FCC has had and we already made adjustments and cancellations of some contracts. I think the American people expect and deserve an efficient operation of their government.”
“My [prediction] is that the DOGE itself will interact with the FCC in the not too distant future,” Carr said. “I welcome the direction we are going in terms of being efficient, delivering results, and we have taken some action, and will continue to take action here at the FCC,” he said, referring to agency votes last Thursday that he said would benefit consumers.
The firings target job categories and entire teams across most agencies, reports The Washington Post. But positions “necessary to meet law enforcement, border security, national security, immigration enforcement, or public safety responsibilities,” a category that includes the executive office, postal workers and political appointees, are exempt, the personnel office memo states.
“Pursuant to the President’s direction, agencies should focus on the maximum elimination of functions that are not statutorily mandated while driving the highest-quality, most efficient delivery of their statutorily-required functions,” according to the Office of Management and Budget and Office of Personnel Management memo. While the federal government has seen a host of layoffs since Trump took office, this move takes the president’s agenda a step further, Politico reports. Most recent dismissals focused on probationary employees, generally federal workers in their jobs for one or two years, while reductions in force could target a wider range of workers.
Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday that directs agency heads to justify and publicize government payments and travel expenses and eliminate superfluous contracts. The order, first reported by Semafor, instructs the General Services Administration to craft a plan for eliminating “unnecessary” government real estate.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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