Elon Musk’s chainsaw has been slashing away at federal jobs since President Trump tapped him to go up the Division of Authorities Effectivity — reportedly reducing down greater than 1 / 4 of one million positions.
Within the three months since Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, DOGE has whacked 279,445 jobs throughout 27 authorities companies, in accordance with a report Thursday by Challenger, Grey & Christmas, an govt teaching and world outplacement agency.
The ripple results have additionally been felt in nonprofits and healthcare organizations as a result of reductions in federal assist and contract terminations, resulting in a further 4,429 job losses, the report discovered.
The general determine marks a 672% improve in comparison with the primary quarter of 2024, when solely 36,195 layoffs have been reported, the examine mentioned.
The federal government sector alone accounted for 216,215 job cuts in March, all inside federal departments.
“It would have otherwise been a fairly quiet month for layoffs,” mentioned Andrew Challenger, Senior Vice President and office professional for Challenger, Grey & Christmas.
The federal government beforehand noticed peak job cuts of 54,182 in September 2011, primarily pushed by reductions inside the US Military.
DOGE is an initiative established by Trump by means of an govt order geared toward modernizing federal expertise and enhancing governmental effectivity.
Musk, the world’s wealthiest particular person, is serving as a senior advisor to the president and enjoying a major function DOGE’s operations.
He was famously photographed wielding a chainsaw throughout an look on the Conservative Political Motion Convention on Feb. 21.
Per federal laws, Musk may solely stay in his submit for 130 consecutive days as a particular authorities worker. His final day is scheduled for Might 30 — precisely 130 days since Trump’s inauguration.
The administration mentioned Wednesday that Musk will proceed to function a “friend and adviser” to Trump after his DOGE stint concludes.
