“Pentagon to Cut 5,400 Jobs – Trump’s Downsizing Sparks Backlash!”
The Pentagon announced Friday it will lay off 5,400 workers next week as part of President Donald Trump’s aggressive push to shrink the federal workforce. While the cuts are smaller than the 50,000 some had feared, officials warn more reductions could follow, with hiring freezes and potential cuts of up to 8% in the Defense Department’s 950,000-strong civilian workforce.
The move is part of a sweeping overhaul led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, which has already slashed over 20,000 government jobs and dismantled programs across multiple agencies, from foreign aid to financial oversight. Legal challenges have so far failed to halt the layoffs, with a federal judge allowing Trump to place 2,000 USAID workers on leave. However, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked the firing of the head of the Office of Special Counsel, an independent watchdog.
FBI Transfers & Public Outcry
Adding to the shake-up, the FBI ordered 1,500 employees to relocate from its Washington headquarters to regional offices. A Reuters Ipsos poll found most Americans fear Musk’s rapid downsizing could disrupt essential government services.
At town halls across the country, Republican lawmakers faced backlash from frustrated voters. In Georgia, Rep. Rich McCormick was booed as he defended the cost-cutting. “They’ve taken a chainsaw to these things,” one attendee said. In Wisconsin, Rep. Scott Fitzgerald was jeered for praising Musk’s efforts, while Ohio Rep. Troy Balderson warned that Trump’s executive orders were “getting out of control,” though he later affirmed his support for the agenda.
Job Cuts & Legal Concerns
Most of the 200,000 federal workers terminated so far were in their probationary period, offering little job protection. Many of them live in states that supported Trump in 2024. Meanwhile, unions and Democrats argue the layoffs are reckless, with lawsuits challenging the legality of the firings.
Further controversy surrounds Musk’s access to sensitive government data, raising privacy and security concerns. The IRS has now limited his aide’s ability to view taxpayer information.
Despite the mounting criticism, the White House insists the cuts fulfill Trump’s campaign promise to eliminate waste. “Americans elected him to do this, and he’s delivering,” said spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.