Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump criticized his predecessor and spoke disparagingly about the state of the nation during his first Cabinet meeting of his term on February 26, 2025. Trump, who took office in January after winning the 2024 election, described the country as “bloated, fat, disgusting,” attributing these conditions to the policies of former President Joe Biden.
In the meeting, Trump addressed various issues, including government efficiency and federal workforce policies. Seizing the opportunity, he launched verbal attacks against Biden, accusing him of fiscal irresponsibility which Trump claims has contributed to current governmental challenges.
A controversial element during the Cabinet session was the discussion of a performance review directive sent to federal employees. Shortly before the meeting, the Office of Personnel Management issued a mandate requiring federal workers to report five weekly achievements by a strict deadline. Trump announced that a follow-up email would target employees who failed to respond, intimating potential job terminations for non-compliance.
Elon Musk, recently appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was present and supported Trump’s stern approach. Musk stated that failure to comply with the directive could be seen as equivalent to resignation, emphasizing a move towards stricter accountability in federal operations.
The process for reducing the federal workforce had already been set in motion, with Trump’s administration demanding reorganization plans from federal departments by mid-March. These plans are expected to detail significant layoffs as part of a broader initiative to streamline government operations, described by the administration as a response to an “expensive, inefficient, and heavily indebted” federal government.
Critics of this strategy, including some from prestigious think tanks such as the Brookings Institution, argue that the savings from proposed federal workforce reductions might be minimal compared to the overall federal deficit. They warn that such cuts could disrupt vital services such as air traffic control, potentially leading to public backlash and even hazardous incidents.
Moreover, political analysts suggest that any misstep in implementing these workforce reductions could be damaging for Trump’s political standing. Historically, presidents often bear the brunt of public dissatisfaction with government dysfunction, regardless of the direct cause.
This push to downsize the federal workforce has not been without legal challenges. On February 27, a federal judge in San Francisco temporarily halted the mass terminations of probationary federal employees, ruling them likely illegal. Judge William Alsup clarified that the Office of Personnel Management lacked the authority to enforce such terminations, marking a significant setback for Trump’s administration.
Legal representatives for the affected workers hailed the decision as a pivotal restraint on the administration’s actions. Attorney Danielle Leonard emphasized the ruling should serve as a clear indication to federal agencies about the unlawfulness of the workforce reduction order.
As Trump’s administration prepares to appeal the decision and continue its reform agenda, federal employees and their representatives remain on alert, bracing for further developments in what appears to be a protracted battle over the future of the federal workforce. The outcome of these disputes will likely resonate beyond the courtroom, impacting the broader political landscape as Trump continues to reshape the federal government in his vision.