{"id":2531897,"date":"2026-01-09T09:10:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T14:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-employment-has-fallen-by-277000-under-trump\/"},"modified":"2026-01-09T09:12:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T14:12:24","slug":"federal-employment-has-fallen-by-277000-under-trump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-employment-has-fallen-by-277000-under-trump\/","title":{"rendered":"Federal employment has fallen by 277,000 under Trump"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffederal-employment-has-fallen-by-277000-under-trump%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2531897&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>federal payrolls have fallen by about 277,000 since President Donald Trump began his second term, with Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/i-dont-care-about-you-guys-getting-it-staffer-sues-congressman-for-dangerous-approach-to-pandemic\/\" title=\"\u2018I Don\u2019t Care About You Guys Getting It\u2019: Staffer Sues Congressman For \u2018Dangerous Approach\u2019 To Pandemic\">federal employment<\/a> down to 2.738 million in November from 3.015 million in January. The largest single decline occurred in October after the governance ended a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-first-year-back-in-office-four-successes-and-four-failures\/\" title=\"...&#039;s first year back in ...: Four successes and four failures\">deferred-resignation program<\/a>, which removed roughly 179,000 workers from the rolls. Office of Personnel Management figures show more than 320,000 separations adn just over 100,000 hires during the period. The White House has promoted the shrinkage as an accomplishment after campaigning to downsize and dismantle certain agencies, though the administration is also planning new hires for border enforcement and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >seeks increased defense spending<\/a>. Experts note that much goverment growth has shifted to contractors rather than direct hires: the civilian federal workforce is about the same size as 60 years ago, while contracting has expanded substantially.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Federal employment has fallen by 277,000 under Trump<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2467183\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The number of employees on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal\/\">federal government<\/a>&rsquo;s payroll has dropped by 277,000 since <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">President Donald Trump<\/a> took office for his second term, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The agency said in its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-adds-a-strong-379000-jobs-in-hopeful-sign-for-economy\/\" title=\"US Adds a Strong 379,000 Jobs in Hopeful Sign for Economy\">monthly jobs report<\/a> that federal employment was 2.738 million in November, adjusted for seasonal variations, down from 3.015 million in January.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4412599\/venezuelan-opposition-leader-machado-visit-white-house-trump\/\">Venezuelan opposition leader Machado to visit the White House: Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4412278\/economy-50000-jobs-december-facts-figures\/\">Economy added 50,000 jobs in December: The key facts and figures<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4408871\/february-social-security-direct-payment-21-days\/\">February Social Security direct payment worth $994 goes out in 21 days<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>President Donald Trump and the White House <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/115785935602103818\">have touted<\/a> the drop in federal workers as an accomplishment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/michael-goodwin-joe-biden-flying-too-close-to-the-son\/\" title=\"Michael Goodwin: Joe Biden Flying too Close to the Son\">big decline<\/a> in federal payrolls came in October, with the end of the Trump administration&rsquo;s deferred resignation program. In early 2025, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3308696\/trump-administration-reassure-federal-employees-resignation-offer-real\/\">via an email<\/a> titled &ldquo;fork in the road,&rdquo; the administration offered to allow workers to resign and then pay them through the end of September. When that program ended at the end of the month, 179,000 workers dropped off the payrolls, according to the BLS&rsquo;s count.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Altogether, more than 320,000 workers have been separated from the federal government since Trump took office, while more than 100,000 have joined, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/data.opm.gov\/explore-data\/analytics\/workforce-changes\">according to<\/a> the Office of Personnel Management. The Department of War has seen the most employees leave.<\/p>\n<p>Trump came into office pledging to shrink the federal workforce, especially by getting rid of civilian employees who he saw as thwarting his agenda in his first term. He campaigned on eliminating a number of agencies and downsizing the government.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He followed through on those pledges to some extent, in part with the help of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. On their watch, the Department of Education, USAID, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and other agencies or bureaus have been largely dismantled.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Yet he faces obstacles in further reducing the federal workforce.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>One is that he is also planning to hire more federal workers, including for the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed in July included new funding for immigration enforcement and national security. Trump has also called for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4411196\/trump-defense-industrial-base-urging-increase-spending\/\">a further 50% increase<\/a> in defense spending.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4412278\/economy-50000-jobs-december-facts-figures\/\"><strong>ECONOMY ADDED 50,000 JOBS IN DECEMBER: THE KEY FACTS AND FIGURES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The other challenge is that much of the growth in government in recent years and decades has come not in the form of additional federal workers, but in contractors. The civilian federal workforce is the same size it was 60 years ago, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/politics\/3224546\/donald-trump-versus-federal-workforce-part-two\/\">meaning that it was about<\/a> 4% of the total U.S. labor force in the 1960s and less than 2% today. At the same time, though, the federal contracting sector has grown enormously. No updated precise figures are available from reliable sources, but one estimate put the figure at 5 million in 2020.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Federal payroll down 277,000 under Trump<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2844,"featured_media":2531898,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/trump-federal-workers.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50231,58669,70469,60440,32640],"class_list":["post-2531897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-federal-workforce","tag-government-jobs","tag-job-losses","tag-labor-statistics","tag-trump-administration"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/trump-federal-workers.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2844"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2531897"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531897\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2531901,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531897\/revisions\/2531901"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2531898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2531897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2531897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2531897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}