A Responsible Approach to Federal Workforce Reduction: Avoiding the Disastrous Musk-Trump Model
As a former Fortune 50 Executive I have experience making a 15% reduction in workforce. Not a pleasant task, I assure you. Given my experience, I’m calling bullshit and WTF on Musk-Trump’s approach with “DOGE”.
The federal government plays a critical role in maintaining the stability, security, and prosperity of the nation. From social services and national defense to regulatory oversight and public health, government agencies touch nearly every aspect of American life. While it is reasonable to seek efficiencies and reduce waste, the way in which these reductions are implemented matters greatly.
Unfortunately, the approach endorsed by Donald Trump, borrowing heavily from Elon Musk’s reckless, slash-and-burn model of corporate downsizing, represents the worst possible way to go about it. Musk’s mass layoffs at Twitter (now X) were a textbook example of how not to manage workforce reductions. The aftermath was a chaotic disaster: essential personnel were let go, key systems failed due to lack of institutional knowledge, morale plummeted, and the company’s reputation tanked. This is precisely what should not happen to the federal government, where the stakes are infinitely higher.
A responsible reduction in the size of the federal workforce must be done in a way that:
- Retains critical institutional knowledge
- Minimizes chaos and confusion
- Ensures continuity of essential functions
- Treats employees with dignity and compassion
- Prevents mass brain drain and loss of expertise
What Trump and his allies are proposing is the opposite: a crude, politically motivated purge that will gut the federal government, destroy morale, and jeopardize the well-being of millions of Americans who rely on government services. This isn’t a strategy; it’s a temper tantrum disguised as governance.
The Musk-Trump Model: A Disaster in the Making
Elon Musk’s approach to workforce reduction at Twitter was defined by:
• No planning – Employees were fired en masse with little regard for their roles, leading to massive operational failures.
• No consideration for essential personnel – Entire departments were gutted without a second thought, causing system breakdowns and security vulnerabilities.
• No communication – Employees found out they were fired through abrupt emails or being locked out of their accounts.
• No dignity or transition support – There was no severance planning, no outplacement services, and no acknowledgment of employees’ contributions.
• No concern for long-term stability – The immediate cost-cutting resulted in long-term dysfunction, leaving the platform unable to handle basic operations.
Now, Trump wants to apply this same playbook to the federal government. His allies have openly admitted their goal is to purge tens of thousands of career civil servants in a political bloodbath, replacing them with ideological loyalists. This is not about efficiency—it’s about power. And it would cripple the federal government.
What a Responsible Workforce Reduction Looks Like
If the federal government needs to reduce its workforce, it must do so in a way that prioritizes stability, integrity, and respect for employees. A well-planned downsizing strategy would follow these key principles:
- Identify True Redundancies, Not Just Political Targets
A data-driven approach should be used to assess which roles are genuinely redundant or could be consolidated. This should be done through independent, non-partisan evaluations, rather than partisan whims. The goal should be to eliminate waste, not expertise.
For example, if a department has overlapping administrative functions across multiple agencies, those could be streamlined without eliminating subject-matter experts or essential personnel.
Contrast this with the Trump plan, which aims to indiscriminately fire employees based on political affiliation rather than function. This is a reckless and dangerous approach that threatens national security, economic stability, and public health.
- Implement a Thoughtful Voluntary Retirement and Buyout Program
One of the most humane and effective ways to reduce the federal workforce is through voluntary separation incentives. Offering early retirement packages, voluntary buyouts, and financial incentives can encourage natural attrition without forcing mass layoffs that disrupt operations.
This approach has been successfully used in past government restructuring efforts. When thoughtfully implemented, it can reduce staffing levels without forcing involuntary job losses or creating widespread fear and instability.
Trump’s plan? No such measures. Instead, he proposes an authoritarian-style purge that throws people out of their jobs overnight, with no transition plan, no severance security, and no concern for the human impact.
- Provide Support for Affected Employees
For those whose jobs are eliminated, a responsible government provides support to ensure they land on their feet. This includes:
• Generous severance packages
• Retraining and upskilling programs to help employees transition into private-sector jobs
• Priority placement in other government roles where their expertise can be utilized
• Job placement assistance to help workers find opportunities in related fields
In contrast, the Musk-Trump model treats employees like disposable objects—one day you’re working, the next day your key card stops working. No notice, no severance, no support. That’s not leadership; that’s cruelty.
- Preserve Critical Knowledge and Institutional Memory
When you gut the workforce too quickly, you don’t just lose bodies—you lose knowledge and expertise that takes decades to develop.
Imagine the consequences of suddenly firing thousands of federal employees who oversee air traffic control, cybersecurity, food safety, environmental protections, Medicare, Social Security, and national security intelligence. The result wouldn’t just be disruption—it would be catastrophic system failure.
A responsible approach involves phasing out positions gradually while ensuring knowledge transfer to remaining staff. Documentation, mentorship programs, and transition teams should be created to ensure continuity of critical functions.
Musk didn’t do this at Twitter, and the platform became a mess. Trump wants to repeat this mistake—on a national scale.
- Ensure Accountability in the Reduction Process
If workforce reduction is necessary, it must be done transparently and equitably, with clear criteria, oversight, and accountability. The process must be protected from:
• Partisan purges aimed at replacing career civil servants with political operatives
• Discriminatory targeting of employees based on race, gender, political beliefs, or other biases
• Backdoor privatization schemes that eliminate government jobs only to hand out contracts to political donors
Trump’s approach has none of these safeguards. His goal is not efficiency; it is revenge. And the American people will pay the price.
The Real Consequences of the Musk-Trump Model
If Trump gets his way, expect the following:
• Mass confusion and operational dysfunction as key agencies are left understaffed and leaderless
• Brain drain as experienced professionals leave, weakening the government’s ability to function
• Economic consequences as mass firings lead to unemployment spikes and disrupt government services
• National security risks as intelligence and law enforcement agencies lose critical personnel
• A more corrupt and incompetent government as career experts are replaced by unqualified political appointees
This isn’t speculation—it’s exactly what happened at Twitter. And the consequences for the country would be far worse.
Goal: Efficiency, Not Anarchy
Reducing government waste is a valid goal. But how it’s done matters. A responsible approach prioritizes stability, continuity, and dignity for employees—not chaos, partisan purges, and reckless destruction.
The Musk-Trump model is a disgrace. It is cruel, chaotic, and self-destructive. America deserves better.
If we truly want a leaner, more efficient government, it must be done through strategic planning, humane treatment of employees, and safeguards to protect critical functions—not through the kind of reckless, authoritarian-style purge Trump envisions.
Let’s reject the chainsaw hack job approach and demand real, responsible governance.
Let your representatives know you too call BULLSHIT on Musk-Trump and “DOGE”
Julie Bolejack, MBA
