Kate Leinbaugh

And Keith, who was at the IRS, says productivity is suffering.

And Keith, who was at the IRS, says productivity is suffering.

And Keith, who was at the IRS, says productivity is suffering.

Trump's cuts, three workers, and the reach of government efficiency. Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Kate Linebaugh. It's Thursday, March 27th. Coming up on the show, the collateral damage of the federal layoffs. The federal government has been laying off workers in a way that hasn't been seen before.

Trump's cuts, three workers, and the reach of government efficiency. Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Kate Linebaugh. It's Thursday, March 27th. Coming up on the show, the collateral damage of the federal layoffs. The federal government has been laying off workers in a way that hasn't been seen before.

Trump's cuts, three workers, and the reach of government efficiency. Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Kate Linebaugh. It's Thursday, March 27th. Coming up on the show, the collateral damage of the federal layoffs. The federal government has been laying off workers in a way that hasn't been seen before.

Under the guidance of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, tens of thousands of employees have been laid off or left their jobs.

Under the guidance of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, tens of thousands of employees have been laid off or left their jobs.

Under the guidance of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, tens of thousands of employees have been laid off or left their jobs.

The Federal Aviation Administration. The cuts have hit department after department. The Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Federal Aviation Administration. The cuts have hit department after department. The Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Federal Aviation Administration. The cuts have hit department after department. The Department of Veterans Affairs.

President Trump says the federal workforce includes many people who aren't doing their jobs. He also wants to reduce federal spending by $1 trillion this fiscal year. Now, in many cases, these agencies are figuring out how to do their work with fewer employees.

President Trump says the federal workforce includes many people who aren't doing their jobs. He also wants to reduce federal spending by $1 trillion this fiscal year. Now, in many cases, these agencies are figuring out how to do their work with fewer employees.

President Trump says the federal workforce includes many people who aren't doing their jobs. He also wants to reduce federal spending by $1 trillion this fiscal year. Now, in many cases, these agencies are figuring out how to do their work with fewer employees.

That's our colleague Lindsay Ellis. She spoke with over 60 federal workers across the country who do all kinds of jobs for the government.

That's our colleague Lindsay Ellis. She spoke with over 60 federal workers across the country who do all kinds of jobs for the government.

That's our colleague Lindsay Ellis. She spoke with over 60 federal workers across the country who do all kinds of jobs for the government.

One agency that's been hit hard is the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the VA. It says it has already laid off more than 2,000 workers and is planning to cut about 70,000 positions. Lindsay spoke to some of the laid-off VA employees. One of them was Brett Taylor.

One agency that's been hit hard is the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the VA. It says it has already laid off more than 2,000 workers and is planning to cut about 70,000 positions. Lindsay spoke to some of the laid-off VA employees. One of them was Brett Taylor.