New York [US], February 8: Reuters yesterday quoted a White House source saying that more than 60,000 of about 2 million federal employees have agreed to quit their jobs to receive generous compensation.
Streamlining many departments
Three weeks after Trump took office, plans to streamline the federal government have been pushed forward across multiple agencies and departments. ABC News, citing several sources familiar with the matter, revealed that the new administration in Washington wants to reduce the workforce of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from 14,000 to about 300.
CNN reported yesterday that more than 160 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials were placed on paid leave while the agency implements President Trump's executive order to eliminate all inappropriate offices and programs.
The streamlining process is also being implemented at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where funding for research projects is being delayed pending further decisions. And The Wall Street Journal reports that the White House is drafting an executive order that would lay off thousands of employees at the Department of Health and Human Services, which has more than 83,000 employees, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
On the same day, February 7, Reuters quoted Federal Election Commission Chairwoman Ellen Weintraub as saying that she had received a letter of dismissal from the Trump administration. However, she announced that she would fight the decision, according to a statement on her X account (formerly known as Twitter).
Legal obstacles
Some of President Trump's efforts to quickly reform the government have been delayed following court rulings, NBC News reported. Early this morning (Vietnam time), federal judge George O'Toole Jr. in Boston (Massachusetts) issued a ruling to postpone the implementation of the proposal to leave work for eight months of salary. This deadline, which was supposed to end at midnight on February 7 (Vietnam time), has now been moved to the beginning of the week (February 10).
In addition, the US Foreign Service and the US Government Labor Federation have filed a lawsuit in Washington, DC on behalf of federal employees and workers. The lawsuit accuses the Trump administration of unconstitutional and illegal actions in ordering USAID to cease operations.
"These actions have created a global humanitarian crisis by abruptly disrupting the vital work of U.S. officials, beneficiaries, and contractors. Thousands of American jobs have been lost, and this conduct has harmed U.S. national interests," the lawsuit said. The labor unions argue that the U.S. Congress has the sole authority to dissolve USAID.
In response to Judge O'Toole Jr's ruling, the White House said the temporary delay in implementing the downsizing plan would give more employees more time to consider the government's proposal. "We thank the judge for extending the deadline so that many federal employees who refuse to come to work can take up this once-in-a-lifetime, incredibly generous offer," the White House press secretary said in a statement to Reuters.
Also yesterday morning (Vietnam time), President Trump announced that he would establish an office of religion in the White House and direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead a specialized unit with the goal of eliminating anti-Christian prejudice within the federal government. According to President Trump, his views on religion changed after he experienced two failed assassination attempts during his election campaign last year.
Minister Bondi also said he was disbanding a program launched under President Joe Biden to seize assets of Russian oligarchs, according to AP.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
