Government agencies have been directed to submit "reorganization plans" and prepare for large-scale firings as part of Elon Musk's efforts to drastically reduce the federal budget.
CBS News obtained a memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget along with the Office of Personnel Management directing department heads to submit those plans by March 13 and ready themselves for "reductions in force."
"Agencies should also seek to consolidate areas of the agency organization chart that are duplicative; consolidate management layers where unnecessary layers exist; seek reductions in components and positions that are non-critical; implement technological solutions that automate routine tasks while enabling staff to focus on higher-value activities; close and/or consolidate regional field offices to the extent consistent with efficient service delivery; and maximally reduce the use of outside consultants and contractors," the memo states. "When taking these actions, agencies should align closures and/or relocation of bureaus and offices with agency return-to-office actions to avoid multiple relocation benefit costs for individual employees."
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The Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency has created chaos throughout the government after Donald Trump established the panel through an executive order on Inauguration Day, and the tech billionaire directed all federal employees over the weekend to justify their jobs by email or be fired.
However, some agency chiefs, including Trump appointees, said they had directed their employees not to respond.
