Musk & Ramaswamy Reveals Plan to Cut Federal Headcount

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have unveiled a bold plan to overhaul the federal workforce, aligning with President-elect Donald Trump's agenda to reduce bureaucracy and streamline government operations.

As co-heads of the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E), they outlined their strategy in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed.

Central to their proposal is the reclassification of select federal employees to "Schedule F" status, removing traditional job protections and enabling significant workforce reductions.

The plan leverages recent Supreme Court rulings, which Musk and Ramaswamy argue grant the administration the authority to implement sweeping reforms.

By cutting federal regulations, they contend many positions would naturally become redundant, further shrinking the workforce.

This initiative complements Trump's broader goals of curbing federal spending and eliminating excessive government oversight.

Musk and Ramaswamy emphasized their commitment to this mission, noting ongoing collaboration with Trump's transition team:

“We will serve as outside volunteers, not federal officials or employees. Unlike government commissions or advisory committees, we won't just write reports or cut ribbons. We'll cut costs.”

They are also assembling a team of "small-government crusaders" to work alongside the White House Office of Management and Budget in executing this vision.

How Regulation Reductions Shape Federal Employment

Musk and Ramaswamy argue that reducing federal regulations will directly shrink the federal workforce by diminishing the need for employees tasked with enforcing them.

Their strategy is grounded in recent Supreme Court rulings that affirm the president's authority to rescind regulations exceeding congressional intent.

Citing West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (2022) and Loper Bright v. Raimondo (2024), they highlight how these decisions reinforce limitations on the powers of federal regulatory agencies.

Through their D.O.G.E. initiative, Musk and Ramaswamy aim to drive one of the most significant government restructurings in modern history, streamlining operations while curbing overreach.

This bold approach aligns with their broader vision of a leaner, more efficient federal system.