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Donald Trump has defended the wave of recent federal layoffs that have sparked mounting criticism, saying many of the affected employees "don't work at all.”
Speaking to reporters at an Oval Office meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Trump acknowledged the job losses but shifted blame to what he described as inefficiencies within the federal workforce.
“Sure I do. I feel very badly ... but many of them don’t work at all. Many of them never showed up to work," Trump said when asked if he felt responsible for the layoffs.
Trump justified the cuts by emphasizing his administration's focus on eliminating "fat and waste and fraud and abuse" in government spending.
"When we cut, we want to cut the people that aren't working or ... not doing a good job. We're keeping the best people," he stated.
Department of Education hit hardest by cuts
The Department of Education has seen some of the most significant workforce reductions, with staffing cut by half in recent weeks.
Trump praised Education Secretary Linda McMahon for her role in implementing the reductions.
"Linda McMahon is a real professional ... very sophisticated businessperson, and she cut a large number, but she kept the best people, and we'll see how it all works out," Trump said.
He claimed the cuts align with his administration's vision of shifting educational oversight to state governments. "We're going to move the Department of Education ... into the states, so that the states, instead of bureaucrats working in Washington, can run education," Trump said.
Backlash grows as layoff numbers climb
Criticism has intensified in response to the cuts, with concerns mounting over the scale and impact of the layoffs. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has played a prominent role in implementing workforce reductions across multiple federal agencies.
Musk, a major Trump donor, confirmed that DOGE is now working in "pretty much" every federal department and plans to expand further.
The layoffs have extended beyond Washington, impacting federal employees nationwide. In addition to the Education Department's cuts, the Department of Health and Human Services recently offered voluntary buyouts to its entire workforce. The Department of Veterans Affairs has also seen recent job cuts and the cancellation of several government contracts.
White House adviser Alina Habba faced backlash for comments about the affected workers, saying: “I really don’t feel sorry for them. They should get back to work for the American people, like President Trump and this administration."
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Habba also drew criticism for remarks targeting military veterans affected by the layoffs, suggesting some may not be "fit to have a job at this moment.”
With Trump doubling down on his stance and public criticism continuing to grow, the administration faces increasing pressure to justify its approach to workforce reductions and address concerns about the long-term effects on federal services.
For the remaining workers the cuts are having an effect on morale, job security and retention.
DOGE effect on employment numbers
Jesse Rothstein, professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of California, Berkeley and former chief economist at the US Department of Labor, said that the impact of DOGE cuts to the federal workforce would only begin to show up in employment data from March onwards.
"The March employment report...seems certain to show bigger job losses than any month ever outside of a few in 2008-9 and 2020," said Rothstein.
Analysis by investment banking advisory firm Evercore ISI, cited by Bloomberg, suggests that DOGE's actions could result in as many as 500,000 layoffs by the end of the year.
Kevin Epley