President Trump recently highlighted his administration’s commitment to reducing the size of the federal workforce while enhancing job opportunities in the private sector. Speaking at the America Business Forum, he stated that around 100,000 federal employees have departed from their positions since January. He emphasized that government spending has decreased by 2.5% in the last quarter compared to the previous year, a notable achievement.
“The contrast between my administration and the last one is clear. All new jobs created during my tenure have come from the private sector,” Trump said. He pointed out that relying solely on government jobs would be detrimental to the country, jokingly noting, “If you have all government workers, you don’t have a country, do you?”
According to the latest Labor Department data, the U.S. economy added approximately 404,000 private sector jobs between February and August of this year. However, the ongoing government shutdown has delayed the release of the September and October jobs reports, which will provide further insight into employment trends.
As the federal workforce has decreased from 3.002 million in February to 2.918 million in August, this marks a reduction of at least 84,000 positions since the beginning of Trump’s second term. The upcoming delayed reports may reveal even steeper declines in federal employment.
Earlier this year, Trump’s administration introduced the DOGE initiative, which offered buyouts to federal workers, allowing them to receive pay while effectively exiting their jobs. It’s important to note that the Bureau of Labor Statistics counts employees on paid leave or severance pay as part of the workforce.
Overall, the focus remains on fostering private sector growth while streamlining government operations, a strategy aimed at encouraging job creation and supporting the economy.
