US President Donald Trump has initiated a major reshuffling of the federal government since his return to the White House in January 2025. Thousands of government employees have been dismissed, and several programs have been put on hold, with no sector spared.
Among the high-ranking officials dismissed was General Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is stepping down in favor of retired Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine, pending Senate confirmation.
Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead naval operations, has been removed from her position, with Admiral Jim Kilby now serving as interim.
General James Slife, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, has also been ousted. His successor has yet to be named.
Within the Pentagon, the Trump team aims to refocus defense on warfare and national security. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has directly challenged the diversity and inclusion initiatives introduced under the Biden administration, calling them counterproductive and disconnected from military objectives. According to Washington, these changes are intended to align the military with the new administration's strategic priorities.
The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is also in the crosshairs. Approximately 6,700 IRS employees are set to be laid off. These cuts primarily target agents hired under the Biden administration, who were tasked with ramping up tax audits, particularly on the wealthy and large corporations. The White House justifies the decision as an effort to reduce government size and ease the tax burden on taxpayers.
However, critics argue that these layoffs weaken the IRS in favor of the wealthiest, limiting efforts to combat tax fraud and exacerbating inequality. Some experts also warn of the risk of crippling the IRS during tax season, which could result in massive delays in processing returns and refunds.
Shocks and Concerns
This wave of layoffs is shaking the military and Congress. Many are condemning the politicization of the armed forces and the potential threat to their effectiveness. The exit of experienced leaders is also taking a toll on troop morale.
Protests have erupted in several cities in support of the dismissed officers, highlighting a growing divide between the Trump administration and a segment of the population. In Austin, Texas, several hundred protesters marched around the local Capitol, chanting slogans such as, “Is this what democracy looks like?”
Similar rallies have taken place in Philadelphia, as well as in California, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana. Among the crowd, numerous signs criticized the actions of Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
Another recurring slogan was “Project 2025,” a roadmap championed by the most conservative wing of the Republican Party, designed as a plan for the radical transformation of the government and society. The initiative has fueled concerns about an authoritarian drift and the weakening of checks and balances.
Meanwhile, several lawsuits have been filed by unions and civil rights organizations, challenging the legality of these layoffs and denouncing an “authoritarian drift.”
Musk to the Rescue, Unlimited Power
At the heart of this radical overhaul is one man, and not just any man: Elon Musk. As head of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), he was given complete freedom to reshape the federal administration according to Trump’s directives. In fact, following a recent court ruling, Musk now has access to all federal databases and can reorganize government personnel without limitations. This expanded power allows him to dismiss thousands of government employees with a single order, bypassing the usual administrative procedures.
Moreover, the head of SpaceX and Tesla has ordered federal workers to list five tasks they have recently completed in an email, warning that failure to do so would be perceived as resignation.
His supporters hail it as a “necessary cleaning” of what they deem an inefficient bureaucracy, but his critics see him as the “enforcer” of an increasingly authoritarian presidency. Some Democratic lawmakers are trying to introduce emergency measures to curb his actions. But for now, the steamroller is in full motion.
In a matter of weeks, Donald Trump has reshaped the country’s military and administrative balance, imposing his vision with unprecedented speed. It remains to be seen whether this aggressive strategy will bolster his authority or trigger uncontrollable turmoil within US institutions. Far from winding down, this purge marks the start of a deeper shift in the United States in the coming weeks.
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