As President-elect Donald Trump gears up to take office on Monday, his administration is set to embark on one of the most aggressive moves to reshape the federal government in recent history. Trump’s plan to dismantle what he and his allies call the "deep state" is poised to take center stage, with significant changes coming right from the start of his second term. Those familiar with the transition discussions predict that Trump's ambitious overhaul of the federal workforce could begin as soon as his first day in office.
This effort includes an executive order aimed at stripping job protections for thousands of federal employees—an estimated 50,000 career civil servants. The plan would allow these positions to be replaced by political appointees loyal to Trump, essentially shifting the balance of power within the federal government. The goal is to flood key positions across government with political allies, potentially making Trump's administration one of the most politically loyal in modern U.S. history.
The Trump administration's move to fill thousands of political appointments is expected to happen quickly. One source indicated that the push to appoint loyalists across the board could be one of the fastest and most sweeping efforts of any recent presidency. These appointments, many of which will require Senate confirmation, are intended to strengthen Trump's agenda and align the federal bureaucracy more closely with his political views.
In fact, this drive for loyalty within the government is already visible. Trump’s team recently requested the resignation of three senior diplomats at the U.S. State Department, signaling the administration's willingness to make bold moves to reshape the workforce. These diplomats, who were responsible for overseeing the department’s operations, were among the first to feel the pressure of the incoming administration’s plans.
Critics of this move argue that the president is pushing a conspiracy theory about a so-called "deep state" to justify his actions. They contend that many federal employees are merely doing their jobs without any ideological agenda. According to experts, under current law, employees can be fired for underperformance or insubordination, and there’s no need for such drastic measures. However, Trump’s allies insist that there’s a deliberate effort within the federal bureaucracy to thwart his agenda, especially during his first term.
One of the key pieces of legislation that could facilitate these changes is the controversial Schedule F. This reclassification order, initially proposed by Trump’s team in 2020, would allow agencies to move career positions into political appointments. Under this system, individuals holding these roles could be removed from their jobs without cause and replaced with political loyalists. Russell Vought, nominated to return as director of the Office of Management and Budget, played a pivotal role in crafting this order during Trump’s first term. The revival of Schedule F is seen as a major tool in reshaping the workforce and ensuring that the president has the right people in key positions.
Vought will be working alongside other influential figures like Sergio Gor, nominated to head the White House personnel office, and James Sherk, who has been a strong advocate for Schedule F and will serve as a special assistant to the president. These figures are seen as crucial to the administration’s effort to bring about this sweeping transformation. Sherk, in particular, has been vocal about how the federal bureaucracy allegedly undermined Trump’s first-term policies, creating obstacles within key departments like the Justice Department and the Department of Education.
But the overhaul doesn’t stop at reclassifying federal positions. Trump has also tapped several high-profile individuals for roles that will help tackle the so-called "deep state." These include figures like Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi, potential FBI director Kash Patel, Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, and others. Each of these individuals has been given a mandate to shake up the bureaucracy in line with Trump’s agenda. The goal is to ensure that individuals in power are fully aligned with the president’s vision, especially in key areas like national security, law enforcement, and education.
While Trump’s allies see this restructuring as necessary to eliminate bureaucratic resistance, critics warn that it could create a culture of fear within the federal workforce. James Eisenmann, a lawyer and expert on federal workforce policy, argues that Trump’s claims of an ideological agenda within the government are misplaced. He contends that many federal employees are simply carrying out their duties and that the president’s actions could lead to a toxic environment where workers are afraid to speak up or offer valuable suggestions.
Furthermore, the introduction of Schedule F is seen by some as a way to impose political loyalty tests on federal employees. Steve Lenkart, the executive director of the National Federation of Federal Workers, has expressed concern that this could lead to the creation of a "secret police" within the government. By targeting employees based on their political affiliations, the argument goes, the administration could undermine the integrity of the federal workforce and stifle dissenting voices.
Despite the criticism, Trump’s transition team remains adamant that their goal is to build a government that serves the interests of the American people, prioritizing policies that put the nation first. Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the Trump transition team, emphasized that the administration will prioritize officials who are committed to defending the rights of citizens and ensuring the best use of taxpayer dollars. However, the timeline for implementing these changes remains unclear, as federal rule-making procedures can take months.
The focus of this overhaul is not only on reclassifying positions and firing federal employees but also on targeting specific individuals within the government who are seen as resistant to Trump’s agenda. For example, the American Accountability Foundation, a conservative group supported by the Heritage Foundation, has already compiled a list of individuals in the U.S. military and other federal agencies who are perceived as overly focused on diversity and inclusion initiatives. This list has sparked controversy, with critics accusing the group of trying to eliminate those who don't align with Trump’s vision.
The Pentagon, for its part, has defended its diversity efforts, stating that the military should reflect the diversity of the nation it serves. The Trump transition team, however, is taking a different approach, with some members of the team already making moves to target these employees, citing concerns about their perceived bias against Trump’s policies.
This ideological battle is just the beginning of what promises to be a lengthy and contentious process. As the Trump administration prepares to take office, it is clear that the effort to dismantle the "deep state" will be one of the defining features of his second term. Whether these efforts will result in a more efficient government or create lasting divisions within the federal workforce remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the battle for control over the federal bureaucracy is far from over.
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