Musk & Ramaswamy Unveil Detailed Plan for Federal Workforce Cuts

[Social Media]

 

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, key figures in President-elect Donald Trump’s initiative to downsize the federal government, have detailed an ambitious plan to slash regulations and reduce the federal workforce. In an op-ed for *The Wall Street Journal*, the two leaders outlined their vision for a leaner government, emphasizing efficiency, cost-savings, and a streamlined regulatory approach.

 

Labeling their initiative the “Department of Government Efficiency,” Musk and Ramaswamy will serve as outside advisors to the Trump administration. They plan to collaborate closely with the White House Office of Management and Budget and the Trump transition team to assemble a team of "small-government crusaders." These experts will be tasked with executing three core reforms: reducing regulations, cutting administrative overhead, and achieving significant cost savings.  

 

The co-authors highlighted the importance of targeting rules that overstep the authority Congress has granted federal agencies. Using a combination of legal expertise and advanced technology, the team aims to identify such regulations, presenting a comprehensive list to Trump. “By executive action, [Trump] can immediately pause the enforcement of those regulations and initiate the process for review and rescission,” Musk and Ramaswamy wrote.

 

They argue that eliminating unnecessary regulations would naturally lead to a corresponding reduction in federal employees.  

“A big reduction in regulations provides sound industrial logic for mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy,” they explained. The initiative will determine the minimum number of employees each agency needs to perform its constitutional and legal duties. Musk and Ramaswamy emphasized that fewer regulations require fewer enforcers, and a narrower scope of agency authority would curb the creation of new regulations.  

 

Acknowledging the personal impact of these cuts, the authors pledged to treat affected employees with respect. “Employees whose jobs are cut deserve to be treated with respect,” they wrote, suggesting measures like voluntary severance packages and incentives for early retirement to ease the transition into the private sector.  

 

Ramaswamy also floated a controversial idea for reducing staff, suggesting that employees could be randomly selected for termination based on their Social Security numbers. In a thought experiment, he proposed that workers with even-numbered Social Security digits could be dismissed on Trump’s first day in office, avoiding potential discrimination lawsuits.  

 

Despite anticipating fierce resistance from entrenched interests in Washington, Musk and Ramaswamy remain confident. “We are prepared for the onslaught from entrenched interests in Washington. We expect to prevail,” they declared. Their plan underscores a radical shift in the federal government’s structure and priorities, reflecting Trump’s campaign promise to streamline bureaucracy and reduce government overreach.

 

Based on a report by Politico 2024-11-22

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

Despite anticipating fierce resistance from entrenched interests in Washington, Musk and Ramaswamy remain confident. “We are prepared for the onslaught from entrenched interests in Washington. We expect to prevail,” they declared.

I wish them well in their quest to reform a bloated bureaucracy. IMO many departments would work better with 70% less managerial staff.

[JonnyF]

A smaller state, free speech, drill baby drill, deport immigrants. 

 

I'm so jealous of the US right now. You have Trump and Musk, we have Starmer and Lammy. 

 

Pray for us. 

[Chomper Higgot]

52 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

A smaller state, free speech, drill baby drill, deport immigrants. 

 

I'm so jealous of the US right now. You have Trump and Musk, we have Starmer and Lammy. 

 

Pray for us. 

I recommend waiting to see the outcome.

 

 

[JonnyF]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

I recommend waiting to see the outcome.

 

 

 

Yes, like we did with the election result. 

[Chomper Higgot]

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I wish them well in their quest to reform a bloated bureaucracy. IMO many departments would work better with 70% less managerial staff.

Please tell us your experience with US Government Departments, bloated or otherwise 
 

Edited 5 hours ago by Chomper Higgot

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, JonnyF said:

 

Yes, like we did with the election result. 

Yes, just like waiting for election results.

 

The outcome is what matters.

 

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Yes, just like waiting for election results.

 

The outcome is what matters.

 

 

Seeing as you disagree with the vote, maybe you could call for a second try like you did with Brexit?

 

 

 

 

[EVENKEEL]

38 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Please tell us your experience with US Government Departments, bloated or otherwise 
 

I have personal experience with 20+ years with DOD. The agency has 8000+ employees. I bet the ground crew office workers are shaking right now. 

[John Drake]

Just close the Department of Education for a start. It's not only useless, it's actually counterproductive. 

[Chomper Higgot]

56 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Just close the Department of Education for a start. It's not only useless, it's actually counterproductive. 

While you’re not a good advertisement for their efforts, we shouldn’t judge on one off cases

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

Seeing as you disagree with the vote, maybe you could call for a second try like you did with Brexit?

 

 

 

 

Referenda and Federal elections mandated in the constitution are not the same thing.

 

But I guess you didn’t know that.

[JonnyF]

21 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Referenda and Federal elections mandated in the constitution are not the same thing.

 

But I guess you didn’t know that.

 

Good to see you accept the result this time. 

 

There's hope for you yet. 

[FritsSikkink]

8 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Ramaswamy also floated a controversial idea for reducing staff, suggesting that employees could be randomly selected for termination based on their Social Security numbers. In a thought experiment, he proposed that workers with even-numbered Social Security digits could be dismissed on Trump’s first day in office, avoiding potential discrimination lawsuits.  

Great idea, don't have to look at competence or if the government needs them. much quicker this way.

What a muppet.

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

You have Trump and Musk, we have Starmer and Lammy. 

 

Pray for us. 

Well, it could be worse. You could have who the Canadians have.

[JonnyF]

33 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

Well, it could be worse. You could have who the Canadians have.

 

Or Jacinda Ardern. 

[mfd101]

The thing about government employees is that (mostly) they have 'permanency' which means they can't be sacked short of criminal activity. So you have to either BRIBE them to take early retirement or COMPENSATE them for the abolition of their position in the bureaucracy.

 

All of which costs a LOT more money to achieve. Only a year or 3 later do your costs start to come down.

 

And if there's a strong union movement and relevant affiliations (ie not in Usofa), then it's even harder & even more expensive ...

[James105]

12 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

The thing about government employees is that (mostly) they have 'permanency' which means they can't be sacked short of criminal activity. So you have to either BRIBE them to take early retirement or COMPENSATE them for the abolition of their position in the bureaucracy.

 

All of which costs a LOT more money to achieve. Only a year or 3 later do your costs start to come down.

 

And if there's a strong union movement and relevant affiliations (ie not in Usofa), then it's even harder & even more expensive ...

 

Or another good idea I have heard that they might implement is that they will require them to actually work 5 days a week in the office compared to the 1 in 5 they do now.  This would spark many a resignation I would think.   

[wwest5829]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

Great idea, don't have to look at competence or if the government needs them. much quicker this way.

What a muppet.

Quite inline with incoming incompetence …

[mokwit]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

While you’re not a good advertisement for their efforts, we shouldn’t judge on one off cases

Oh, I thought you said you didn't make personal attacks?

[Purdey]

Create more unemployment? Great. 🤨

Civilian unemployment rate

Edited 1 hour ago by Purdey

[Srikcir]

10 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO many departments would work better with 70% less managerial staff.

Have any data by department behind that allegation? Cite links?

 

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, James105 said:

work 5 days a week in the office compared to the 1 in 5 they do now

Wouldn't 1 in 5 significantly reduce need for office space and operational costs for the government, ie., by 80%. Some agencies use "hotelling" that requires employees to book in advance existing federal office space/seating that minimizes need for more government office areas and support services - it's a cost reduction program. Employees are required to hotel at least one or more days  a week or face dismissal.

[Srikcir]

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

“Employees whose jobs are cut deserve to be treated with respect,”

Which seems to be countered by

 

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

employees could be randomly selected for termination based on their Social Security numbers. In a thought experiment, he proposed that workers with even-numbered Social Security digits could be dismissed on Trump’s first day in office, avoiding potential discrimination lawsuits.  

"The Best Leaders Don’t Fire Employees The Way Elon Musk Did," https://www.forbes.com/sites/bruceweinstein/2022/11/21/

• How did thousands of Twitter employees learn that they were being let go? Some were notified by email. Others found themselves unable to log into the company’s systems.

[thaipo7]

5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I recommend waiting to see the outcome.

 

 

Wait to see the outcome?  We already know it is a win for the American freedoms and taxpayer.

[Callmeishmael]

Cutting government oversight departments always save money in the long run... 

 

Just ask the British how well that worked out when Margaret Thatcher deregulated parts of the Agriculture and Health Ministries, leading to the outbreak of Mad Cow Disease.