Key facts
- President Trump directed his acting intelligence chief to reduce staff and agencies.
- Trump stated the office size was 'way too high for way too long.'
- This directive follows a previous executive order on federal employee firings.
President Donald Trump has instructed his acting intelligence chief to fire employees and shrink spy agencies, expressing that the office size has been 'way too high for way too long.' This directive comes in the wake of a previous executive order signed by Trump that established Schedule P/C, a new employment classification designed to streamline the process of removing senior federal employees involved in policymaking. The administration argued that this change was necessary to ensure government agencies are responsive to elected leadership and to address difficulties in removing employees for poor performance or misconduct. Employees placed in Schedule P/C positions are exempt from standard adverse action procedures, making them 'at-will' employees. Approximately 8,000 federal workers, with about 97% holding GS-15 positions, were expected to be affected by that order. Federal employee unions have criticized both directives, citing concerns over due process and civil service protections.