Amanda Aronchik

When they wanted to overhaul the way the government bought hammers or planes that the military uses to move other planes, they passed a procurement bill through Congress. When they undid the tea tasters and the wool law, Elaine says, they needed bipartisan support. Congress voted on those things.

When they wanted to overhaul the way the government bought hammers or planes that the military uses to move other planes, they passed a procurement bill through Congress. When they undid the tea tasters and the wool law, Elaine says, they needed bipartisan support. Congress voted on those things.

When they finished their big effort, the Clinton administration had created the smallest federal government since Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. And they ended up saving taxpayers about $136 billion in all over the whole eight-year effort. So, you know, not groundbreaking, but yeah, sizable.

When they finished their big effort, the Clinton administration had created the smallest federal government since Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. And they ended up saving taxpayers about $136 billion in all over the whole eight-year effort. So, you know, not groundbreaking, but yeah, sizable.

When they finished their big effort, the Clinton administration had created the smallest federal government since Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. And they ended up saving taxpayers about $136 billion in all over the whole eight-year effort. So, you know, not groundbreaking, but yeah, sizable.

Yeah, what Elaine and her team did over eight years, the Trump administration says it will do over a year and a half. Doge is supposed to cease to exist by July 2026.

Yeah, what Elaine and her team did over eight years, the Trump administration says it will do over a year and a half. Doge is supposed to cease to exist by July 2026.

Yeah, what Elaine and her team did over eight years, the Trump administration says it will do over a year and a half. Doge is supposed to cease to exist by July 2026.

After the break, if we cut every single federal job that Trump wants, how much money would that save?

After the break, if we cut every single federal job that Trump wants, how much money would that save?

After the break, if we cut every single federal job that Trump wants, how much money would that save?

So the last time a president really focused on shrinking the size of the government was 32 years ago with Elaine K. Mark leading the effort. So she does have like unique insight into what the Trump administration is doing now. Are you just like the most sought after you've ever been in a long time? Well...

So the last time a president really focused on shrinking the size of the government was 32 years ago with Elaine K. Mark leading the effort. So she does have like unique insight into what the Trump administration is doing now. Are you just like the most sought after you've ever been in a long time? Well...

So the last time a president really focused on shrinking the size of the government was 32 years ago with Elaine K. Mark leading the effort. So she does have like unique insight into what the Trump administration is doing now. Are you just like the most sought after you've ever been in a long time? Well...

The Trump administration says there are too many. So we asked Elaine, just how much money can you save by cutting jobs? And she says, here's one way to think about it. Let's say you cut every single federal worker. There were no more federal jobs, none. The U.S. would save $271 billion a year. That's salaries and benefits. $271 billion, that's how much we spend a year on federal employees?

The Trump administration says there are too many. So we asked Elaine, just how much money can you save by cutting jobs? And she says, here's one way to think about it. Let's say you cut every single federal worker. There were no more federal jobs, none. The U.S. would save $271 billion a year. That's salaries and benefits. $271 billion, that's how much we spend a year on federal employees?

The Trump administration says there are too many. So we asked Elaine, just how much money can you save by cutting jobs? And she says, here's one way to think about it. Let's say you cut every single federal worker. There were no more federal jobs, none. The U.S. would save $271 billion a year. That's salaries and benefits. $271 billion, that's how much we spend a year on federal employees?

On federal employees, yep. That is everything, okay? $271 billion sounds big, and it is big, but for context, it's like 4% of the federal budget. 65% of the federal budget goes to paying for work. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the other things the U.S. has to pay for, mandatory spending, right?

On federal employees, yep. That is everything, okay? $271 billion sounds big, and it is big, but for context, it's like 4% of the federal budget. 65% of the federal budget goes to paying for work. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the other things the U.S. has to pay for, mandatory spending, right?

On federal employees, yep. That is everything, okay? $271 billion sounds big, and it is big, but for context, it's like 4% of the federal budget. 65% of the federal budget goes to paying for work. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the other things the U.S. has to pay for, mandatory spending, right?