DOGE Orders Federal Agencies to Submit RIF Plans Affecting 50,000 Positions

The Department of Government Efficiency directed all major federal agencies to submit Reduction in Force plans targeting approximately 50,000 positions within a 30-day window. The directive went beyond standard budget-driven workforce cuts, with agencies required to justify retaining employees rather than eliminating roles, effectively reversing the burden of proof for federal employment and accelerating the hollowing out of career agency expertise.