by Chase Sondike ‘26

President-elect Donald Trump has announced a bold plan to restructure the federal government once he is sworn in on January 25. His proposition involves significant cuts to federal agencies and a shift in power away from what he describes as “the deep state.” Trump has publically been critical of the size and influence of the federal workforce, claiming it slows down decision-making and is resistant to reform.

Trump looks to narrow federal staff by a large margin, as well as decentralize agency operations. This would result in many government employees losing their jobs or being moved out of Washington, D.C., to other parts of the country. Trump has appointed billionaire businessman and CEO Elon Musk, along with entrepreneur and 2024 Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, to head what he calls the Department of Government Efficiency. The commission is intended to serve as an advisory body providing counsel on streamlining the U.S. federal government and reducing inefficiency.

Trump’s supporters believe this could reduce waste and make the government function more efficiently while skeptics argue the idea could create chaos within essential departments and that the plan is politically motivated. Many local elected officials are concerned that a reduction to the federal workforce could harm the economies and communities in the DMV.