Tags: shutdown | federal | workforce | trump | taxes
OPINION

Shutdown Is Trump's Chance to Trim the Government Workforce

Shutdown Is Trump's Chance to Trim the Government Workforce
Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., left, speaks during a press conference with Speaker Mike Johnson at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on October 8, 2025. (Richard Pierrin/AP)

Michael Busler By Monday, 13 October 2025 10:54 AM EDT Current | Bio | Archive

With the federal government facing a shutdown, President Trump has a unique opportunity to tackle the massive and costly bureaucratic workforce that has long been a drain on taxpayer resources.

As of July 2023, excluding active-duty military personnel, the federal government boasted an astounding 2.9 million employees—approximately double what is needed, according to a recent report from DOGE.

DOGE examined all services provided by the government and concluded that with modern systems in place, the workforce could be slashed by half without sacrificing, and perhaps even enhancing, service delivery.

The report uncovered numerous instances of waste, fraud, and abuse, with the inefficient handling of Social Security records standing out as a prime example.

Remarkably, DOGE found that most Social Security records are stored in a repurposed limestone mine, where 600 dedicated federal employees painstakingly process thousands of retirements claims by hand. This outdated method relies on paper filing systems reminiscent of the pre-computer era.

Originally excavated by U.S. Steel in 1902, the mine has been converted into a secure document storage facility, housing about 26,000 filing cabinets filled with manila envelopes, cardboard boxes, and an estimated 400 million pieces of paper.

Imagine the savings and efficiency if these antiquated processes were modernized. If the records were computerized, the mine could be shuttered, nearly all 600 employees could be furloughed, and the remaining staff would have instantaneous access to all necessary records.

Yet the financial implications stretch beyond sheer inefficiency; this outdated system is rife with fraud. DOGE found instances of individuals collecting Social Security benefits years after their deaths—a glaring example of the waste that taxpayers unwittingly fund.

While federal government employees’ union disputed DOGE findings, it appears that many government workers who worked remotely never came back to the office after the COVID shutdown ended.

DOGE also found that the productivity had fallen dramatically, even questioning if those remote workers were truly doing the work they were hired to do for 40 hours per week.

Each year, the federal government spends nearly $400 billion on its civilian workforce. However, by modernizing operations, it could realistically reduce this figure by half, generating an annual savings of $200 billion.

One of the substantial hurdles the Trump administration faces in reducing the workforce has been the constant lawsuits from employees and their unions. These legal battles have complicated efforts to downsize the government’s workforce, but the current shutdown may offer a rare opportunity.

With the government now inactive, Trump is tasked with determining which positions to furlough and for how long. He is discovering that entire departments could be eliminated without impacting critical public services.

As of last Friday, Trump’s workforce reduction initiative had furloughed just 4,200 employees.

Following DOGE's report, he extended generous incentive packages to encourage hundreds of thousands of federal workers to consider leaving their positions. Despite these efforts, the bloated government workforce continues to cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars each year.

While Trump views this shutdown as a chance for permanent workforce reduction, the American Federation of Government Employees has taken legal action against these measures. Some elected officials from both parties are also fighting Trump’s actions.

Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., the leading Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, criticized Trump's tactics, asserting, "A shutdown does not give Trump or (Budget Director) Vought new, special powers to cause more chaos or permanently weaken basic services for the American people." She characterized the administration’s actions as irresponsible.

Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, echoed her concerns, stating that she "strongly opposed" the layoffs as they could undermine the agency's capabilities and hurt families across the nation.

While Americans sympathize with any employees facing job loss—hence the proposed generous severance packages—the reality is that the federal government cannot continue to operate with gross inefficiency and outrageous cost.

Even with Trump’s proposed workforce reductions and other budget cuts, the deficit for fiscal 2025 stands at a staggering $1.8 trillion, with total public debt surpassing $37.3 trillion.

The imperative for government operations to be streamlined, modernized, and made more efficient is clear. Trump has a crucial opportunity during this shutdown, and taxpayers should be hopeful for a successful reform that benefits both the economy and the efficiency of government services.

_______________

Michael Busler is a public policy analyst and a professor of finance at Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in finance and economics. He has written op-ed columns in major newspapers for more than 35 years.

© 2025 Newsmax Finance. All rights reserved.


MichaelBusler
With the federal government facing a shutdown, President Trump has a unique opportunity to tackle the massive and costly bureaucratic workforce that has long been a drain on taxpayer resources.
shutdown, federal, workforce, trump, taxes
744
2025-54-13
Monday, 13 October 2025 10:54 AM
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