Trump to agency staff: “You’re fired.”

The Trump administration lifted its controversial freeze on hiring at federal agencies but warned that layoffs are next on its agenda. In a 14-page memorandum, the Trump administration has ordered the heads of every federal agency to start significantly reducing their personnel over the next year. Although the memo did not get into specific staffing cuts, Politico reports that Trump definitely put a target on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Budget documents indicate that the White House would like to see EPA staffing reduced by as much as one-third. Moreover, the EPA has been directed to identify two regional offices for closure by June 15. Ultimately, Congress has the power to accept, reject, or alter the Trump budget—fortunately, many members of both parties are already balking at his plans to drastically cut the EPA’s funding.