The figures are in, and it seems the Trump administration is making strides toward its goal of trimming the federal bureaucracy.
President Donald Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency with the explicit aim of achieving this reduction, and as of May, over 22,000 federal employees in the Washington, D.C., area have been let go.
According to Bloomberg’s recent data, the federal workforce has shrunk by 22,100 since Trump assumed office in January.
The regions of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia have experienced particularly pronounced declines in federal employment.
Maryland’s federal workforce constitutes 5.4 percent of its total employment, while Virginia’s is at 4.4 percent. In stark contrast, Washington, D.C. boasts a whopping 24.6 percent federal workforce.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond reports that Maryland has seen a 5.4 percent reduction in its federal workforce, Virginia a 4.8 percent drop, and D.C. a 1.9 percent decline.
These job cuts have naturally influenced unemployment claims in the affected areas.
“As is typical during presidential transitions, initial unemployment claims rose across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia since January. D.C. witnessed its first significant uptick in mid-January, peaking with the highest claims filed during the week of February 15,” the report noted.
“Maryland experienced its sharpest spike during that same week, with claims jumping by an astonishing 334.8 percent from the previous week, followed by another 400 percent increase reported on May 10. Virginia recorded its highest initial claims during the weeks of March 1 and April 5.”
Clearly, Trump has been taking action. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management released a statement on July 1, claiming a figure close to that of the Federal Reserve Bank, citing over 23,000 job cuts.
“This data represents an initial, measurable step toward President Trump’s vision of a disciplined and accountable federal workforce. And this is just the beginning,” stated Acting Director Chuck Ezell.
The announcement indicated that October could be a crucial month for further reductions, particularly due to the Deferred Resignation Program.
The federal workforce still numbers over 2 million, but it’s worth noting we are only halfway through a four-year term. Former President Bill Clinton managed to reduce federal employment from 2.2 million to 1.8 million during his tenure.
Clinton’s actions as a Democrat illustrate that cutting costs for taxpayers should transcend party lines, even if it currently stirs controversy. Democrats have reacted with disbelief at Trump’s decision to dismiss what they deem overpaid bureaucrats.
While not every individual let go may fit that label, the necessity for reform is clear.
Democrats would be wise to reflect on recent history before reacting so vehemently against Trump’s efforts. Clinton did it, Trump is doing it—workforce reductions and the pursuit of efficiency shouldn’t incite the chaotic backlash we’ve witnessed in response to these cuts.
This article was originally published by The Western Journal.
