The Federal Workforce is Larger than the Number of Workers in Construction, Manufacturing, Mining, and Logging – Combined

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Washington DC, the federal government is getting a major shake-up with the launch of the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE)—an advisory group aimed at reducing waste, cutting excess regulations, and reshaping federal agencies.

President Donald Trump, DOGE is designed to streamline government operations and eliminate bureaucratic bloat. While it’s unclear whether the department will function as an official government agency or an external advisory board, it will work closely with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to drive large-scale federal reforms.

Trump has described DOGE as the “Manhattan Project” of government reform, positioning it as a historic effort to liberate the U.S. economy by creating a leaner, more accountable government.

Federal Workforce Growth Under Biden

One of DOGE’s primary targets? The massive expansion of the federal workforce in recent years. Under President Joe Biden, government hiring has far outpaced private-sector hiring, resulting in a federal workforce larger than the combined total of construction, manufacturing, mining, and logging jobs.

While not all government jobs are redundant, outdated, or wasteful, too many of them are—leading to inefficiencies that weigh down taxpayers and slow economic progress.

Why Downsizing Government Isn’t Easy

Trimming the federal workforce isn’t as simple as just reducing new hires. The quit rate among government employees is less than half that of the private sector, meaning that once a worker joins the federal system, they rarely leave.

As the saying goes: “It takes a blowtorch to get a federal worker to leave voluntarily.”

The Future of DOGE

If successful, DOGE could lead to:

✅ Fewer unnecessary regulations that stifle businesses
✅ Reduced government expenditures that drive up national debt
✅ A more efficient and accountable federal workforce
✅ Economic growth driven by a streamlined public sector

While critics argue that cutting government jobs could impact services, supporters believe that eliminating inefficiencies will ultimately benefit both taxpayers and the economy.

The Bottom Line

Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency could mark the biggest attempt at government downsizing in decades. Whether it succeeds or stalls, one thing is clear: government bloat is now firmly in the spotlight—and the debate over federal efficiency is just getting started.