WASHINGTON, D.C. – A major shake-up is happening in the U.S. government! President Donald Trump, with the help of billionaire businessman Elon Musk, has fired nearly 9,500 government workers in a huge effort to cut costs and reduce the size of the federal workforce. This move is affecting people who work in important jobs like taking care of military veterans, protecting forests, and even handling health programs.
Why So Many People Are Losing Their Jobs?
Trump believes the government is too big and wastes too much money. The U.S. government owes a huge amount of money—about $36 trillion—and last year alone, it spent $1.8 trillion more than it made. To fix this, Trump and Musk are cutting jobs, shutting down programs, and offering buyouts to encourage workers to leave voluntarily. So far, about 75,000 people have taken these buyouts.
Which Jobs Are Being Cut?
The job cuts have hit several departments, including:
- U.S. Forest Service – Around 3,400 workers lost their jobs, meaning fewer people to protect and take care of national parks.
- National Park Service – About 1,000 employees were fired.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Nearly half of the new employees were let go, affecting public health services.
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – Thousands more workers will be fired next week, which could slow down tax refunds.
- U.S. Department of Energy – Up to 2,000 workers, including 325 nuclear security workers, lost their jobs. Some of these cuts were later reversed to keep the country’s nuclear security intact.
Workers Speak Out: ‘I Feel Betrayed’
Many government employees were shocked and heartbroken by the sudden job losses.
- Nick Gioia, a military veteran who worked for the government for 17 years, was fired just months after starting his new job. “I served my country, and now I feel betrayed,” he said.
- Workers say that Musk and Trump’s plan isn’t just about saving money—it’s about giving big businesses more freedom by removing government rules.
Is the Government Shrinking Too Fast?
Not everyone agrees with these rapid job cuts. Some believe that getting rid of so many workers at once will make it harder for the government to do its job.
- After wildfires in Los Angeles, the government stopped hiring new firefighters and stopped clearing dead trees, which could lead to more fires in the future.
- Government workers and their unions are suing to stop the mass firings, saying they are unfair and could hurt important services.
- Some judges have even temporarily blocked parts of Trump and Musk’s plan, especially when it comes to agencies that protect consumer rights, healthcare, and privacy.
What’s Next?
Despite the criticism, Trump and Musk continue to push forward with more cuts. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—which protects people from unfair treatment by banks and big companies—was almost shut down completely. Foreign aid spending has been frozen, and more job cuts are expected.
As the country watches these changes unfold, one big question remains: Will these cuts really save money, or will they cause more harm than good?
