Elon Musk recently positioned himself as “tech support” for the government during a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump. The Trump administration has directed federal agencies to develop plans for eliminating employee positions, signaling a significant shift in workforce management. Thousands of probationary employees have already been terminated, and now the focus is on career officials with civil service protection. Agencies are required to submit plans by March 13 for a reduction in force, which involves not only laying off employees but also eliminating the positions entirely. These changes could lead to substantial transformations in how the government operates.

In related news, the Department of Veterans Affairs has halted billions of dollars in planned contract cuts after concerns were raised about the potential negative impact on critical veterans’ health services. The pause affects numerous VA contracts that were described as consulting deals aimed at saving $2 billion to reduce costs across the federal government. This decision comes amidst a broader context of significant changes in government operations, including the Trump administration’s plans to cut over 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in overall U.S. assistance worldwide. These actions are part of a larger effort to streamline and optimize government spending, with implications for various sectors and services.