Amanda Aronchik

We pay trillions and trillions of dollars out in those benefits every year, which Elon Musk did just say may be next. But the point is, federal jobs are just not the expensive stuff.

We pay trillions and trillions of dollars out in those benefits every year, which Elon Musk did just say may be next. But the point is, federal jobs are just not the expensive stuff.

We pay trillions and trillions of dollars out in those benefits every year, which Elon Musk did just say may be next. But the point is, federal jobs are just not the expensive stuff.

OK, but to be fair, if we only look at the official federal jobs, that doesn't really give us the whole picture because there is another kind of like hidden category of worker doing government-ish work that the government also pays for, federal contractors.

OK, but to be fair, if we only look at the official federal jobs, that doesn't really give us the whole picture because there is another kind of like hidden category of worker doing government-ish work that the government also pays for, federal contractors.

OK, but to be fair, if we only look at the official federal jobs, that doesn't really give us the whole picture because there is another kind of like hidden category of worker doing government-ish work that the government also pays for, federal contractors.

We have more contractors than civil servants.

We have more contractors than civil servants.

We have more contractors than civil servants.

We don't actually know how many federal contractors there are. According to Elaine's estimates, there are 2.7 million individual contract workers. Some say more. And that is on top of the official federal employee numbers. And contract workers have been losing their jobs, too, when the Trump administration stopped paying some of its contracts.

We don't actually know how many federal contractors there are. According to Elaine's estimates, there are 2.7 million individual contract workers. Some say more. And that is on top of the official federal employee numbers. And contract workers have been losing their jobs, too, when the Trump administration stopped paying some of its contracts.

We don't actually know how many federal contractors there are. According to Elaine's estimates, there are 2.7 million individual contract workers. Some say more. And that is on top of the official federal employee numbers. And contract workers have been losing their jobs, too, when the Trump administration stopped paying some of its contracts.

A lot of the goods we contract out for are for defense. We pay contractors to build aircraft carriers and to make socks for the military. And this kind of contract work, people generally think it makes the government more efficient. Like we don't need the federal government to make yellow legal pads for judges or to manufacture floor mats for when it rains. Right.

A lot of the goods we contract out for are for defense. We pay contractors to build aircraft carriers and to make socks for the military. And this kind of contract work, people generally think it makes the government more efficient. Like we don't need the federal government to make yellow legal pads for judges or to manufacture floor mats for when it rains. Right.

A lot of the goods we contract out for are for defense. We pay contractors to build aircraft carriers and to make socks for the military. And this kind of contract work, people generally think it makes the government more efficient. Like we don't need the federal government to make yellow legal pads for judges or to manufacture floor mats for when it rains. Right.

It's also things like cybersecurity experts, nuclear physicists, translators.

It's also things like cybersecurity experts, nuclear physicists, translators.

It's also things like cybersecurity experts, nuclear physicists, translators.

Elaine can appreciate at least the spirit behind what the Trump administration is trying to accomplish with all these cuts. But she says there's a process. Like when the government fires someone, Elaine says there has to be a reason like performance or, you know, we're getting rid of this whole division because we have email now. You can't just. blanket everyone who is probationary is fired.

Elaine can appreciate at least the spirit behind what the Trump administration is trying to accomplish with all these cuts. But she says there's a process. Like when the government fires someone, Elaine says there has to be a reason like performance or, you know, we're getting rid of this whole division because we have email now. You can't just. blanket everyone who is probationary is fired.