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'If You Can Keep It': The Future Of The Federal Workforce : 1A Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and billionaire businessman Elon Musk are heading the president-elect's new Department of Government Efficiency – a non-governmental agency that they say will reduce waste and streamline the U.S. federal agencies.

But the so–called DOGE is only one tool the president has in mind for slashing the federal workforce. And as more details emerge, the futures of the nation's career civil servants are in the balance.

We discuss what these plans mean, not just for federal workers, but for the country as a whole.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

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'If You Can Keep It': The Future Of The Federal Workforce

'If You Can Keep It': The Future Of The Federal Workforce

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The dome of the US Capitol is seen at dusk in Washington, DC. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

The dome of the US Capitol is seen at dusk in Washington, DC.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

More than 2 million Americans serve as career civil servants in the U.S. federal workforce. President-elect Donald Trump's team has promised to reduce federal spending in part by cutting government employees. Now, those plans are looking more concrete.

Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and billionaire businessman Elon Musk are heading the president-elect's new Department of Government Efficiency – a non-governmental agency that they say will reduce waste and streamline the U.S. federal agencies.

But the so–called DOGE is only one tool the president has in mind for slashing the federal workforce. And as more details emerge, the futures of the nation's career civil servants are in the balance.

What do these plans mean not just for federal workers – but for the country as a whole?

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.