President Trump takes a sledgehammer to bloated federal agencies as he signs a sweeping Executive Order to dismantle eight government bureaucracies. The move positions Elon Musk to lead the charge against wasteful spending as the administration works to drain the Washington swamp.
At a glance:
• Trump signed an Executive Order to reduce operations of Voice of America and seven other federal agencies
• The order aims to shrink bureaucracy by instructing agencies to operate at the bare minimum required by law
• Kari Lake, Trump’s appointee to lead VOA, has already placed some staff on administrative leave
• Elon Musk is spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative targeting $2 trillion in wasteful spending
• The cuts are expected to eliminate over 100,000 federal jobs and save taxpayers an estimated $115 billion
Trump’s Bold Move to Slash Federal Bureaucracy
President Donald Trump has taken decisive action to reduce the federal government’s bloated bureaucracy by signing an Executive Order targeting eight federal agencies. The sweeping directive aims to shrink these agencies to the bare minimum required by law, striking a blow against wasteful government spending and saving millions of dollars for the already overburdened American taxpayer.
The targeted agencies include the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Voice of America, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Institute of Museum and Library Services, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, Minority Business Development Agency, and the Arctic Research Commission. These entities have been instructed to shut down non-legally required functions, reduce staff, and minimize operations to what is statutorily mandated.
Voice of America Faces Major Overhaul
A key target in Trump’s government reduction plan is the USAGM, which has faced criticism from conservatives for perceived liberal bias in its reporting. Trump appointed former news anchor and loyal ally Kari Lake to lead Voice of America, while media watchdog Brent Bozell has been nominated to head the parent agency.
Lake has already begun implementing changes at VOA, informing staff that some employees will be placed on administrative leave as the agency’s operations are scaled back. The Trump-appointed Director reportedly believes that while the agency could be improved rather than completely dismantled, significant changes are necessary to address longstanding concerns about its political leanings.
“This order continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary,” the Executive Order states. The directive gives agencies just seven days to submit compliance reports to the Office of Management and Budget.
Elon Musk Leads Charge to Cut Government Waste
Elon Musk is playing a central role in Trump’s government efficiency initiative as the Head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, nicknamed DOGE. The billionaire has been tasked with identifying major areas of waste in federal spending and recommending substantial cuts to streamline government operations.
The DOGE initiative has already proposed cutting over 100,000 jobs from the federal civilian workforce and canceled numerous government programs and contracts. These efforts have reportedly identified approximately $115 billion in potential savings, and DOGE is determined to save $2 trillion in total before the department is dissolved in 2026.
The White House said these cuts will enhance accountability, reduce waste, promote innovation, streamline government priorities, and save taxpayer dollars—all key components of the president’s promise to “drain the swamp” in Washington.
