Scott Detrow

Trump has made it clear that one of the key goals of his second term is to shrink the size and scope of the federal workforce and eliminate programs he doesn't like.

Trump has made it clear that one of the key goals of his second term is to shrink the size and scope of the federal workforce and eliminate programs he doesn't like.

Trump has made it clear that one of the key goals of his second term is to shrink the size and scope of the federal workforce and eliminate programs he doesn't like.

Tens of thousands of federal government employees have already been fired.

Tens of thousands of federal government employees have already been fired.

Tens of thousands of federal government employees have already been fired.

That is a federal employee who was fired in the early days of Trump's second term. She's with the United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, and spoke to us on the condition of anonymity because she fears retribution in the workplace. For the past couple of months, she was doing a fellowship program that had her working at the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID.

That is a federal employee who was fired in the early days of Trump's second term. She's with the United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, and spoke to us on the condition of anonymity because she fears retribution in the workplace. For the past couple of months, she was doing a fellowship program that had her working at the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID.

That is a federal employee who was fired in the early days of Trump's second term. She's with the United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, and spoke to us on the condition of anonymity because she fears retribution in the workplace. For the past couple of months, she was doing a fellowship program that had her working at the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID.

And to her, that felt strange. She says she had received glowing performance reviews. She felt her work was important. She was doing things like helping new mothers and infants with nutrition and food security in developing countries.

And to her, that felt strange. She says she had received glowing performance reviews. She felt her work was important. She was doing things like helping new mothers and infants with nutrition and food security in developing countries.

And to her, that felt strange. She says she had received glowing performance reviews. She felt her work was important. She was doing things like helping new mothers and infants with nutrition and food security in developing countries.

Soon, nearly the entire staff had either been put on paid administrative leave or fired. And the majority of the department's programs ended.

Soon, nearly the entire staff had either been put on paid administrative leave or fired. And the majority of the department's programs ended.

Soon, nearly the entire staff had either been put on paid administrative leave or fired. And the majority of the department's programs ended.

The loss, she says, is hard to calculate.

The loss, she says, is hard to calculate.

The loss, she says, is hard to calculate.

The choice to unilaterally dissolve a federal agency, one established by Congress, was a shock to Washington. But the concept at the heart of it, that the president has broad authority to act unilaterally without consequence, that the executive branch should reflect his priorities, stems from one idea, the unitary executive theory.

The choice to unilaterally dissolve a federal agency, one established by Congress, was a shock to Washington. But the concept at the heart of it, that the president has broad authority to act unilaterally without consequence, that the executive branch should reflect his priorities, stems from one idea, the unitary executive theory.