Since returning to office for a second term, Donald Trump has overseen the dismissal of more than 9,500 federal employees as part of efforts to reduce government expenditures. The layoffs have affected workers across various sectors, from federal land management to veteran care.

This development was reported by British news agency Reuters on Saturday. The majority of those dismissed had been in their roles for less than a year or had lower job security. In addition to these dismissals, nearly 75,000 workers have been offered voluntary resignation packages, accounting for approximately 3% of the U.S. government's 2.3 million civilian workforce.

Trump has argued that the federal bureaucracy has expanded excessively, leading to widespread inefficiency and financial waste. The government currently faces a debt of nearly $36 trillion, with a budget deficit of $1.8 trillion last year. Some Democratic lawmakers have criticized these measures, asserting that Trump is undermining congressional authority over federal spending. However, with Republican majorities in both houses of Congress, his cost-cutting initiatives have received broad support.

Upon assuming office for a second term, Trump appointed billionaire Elon Musk as the head of a newly established department, the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk has pledged to save the U.S. government $10 trillion, a substantial portion of the $6.75 trillion federal budget from the previous year. Less than 5% of that budget is allocated to government employee salaries.

Critics have raised concerns about Musk’s aggressive approach, suggesting that he wields significant influence over Trump’s administration. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant dismissed these criticisms on Friday, likening Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to an audit agency. According to Besant, the department’s staff are conducting inspections across various federal agencies to assess and enhance financial efficiency.