WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, tech moguls Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy presented a proposal for President-elect Donald Trump to implement a significant reduction in the federal workforce, suggesting that many employees would become unnecessary once Trump removes “thousands of regulations” in his upcoming term.

In a Wall Street Journal commentary, Musk and Ramaswamy, appointed by Trump as co-leaders of a new Department of Government Efficiency, criticized federal workers who believe they are secure in their jobs due to civil-service protections.

The pair referenced recent Supreme Court rulings to assert that Trump has the authority to overturn numerous regulations on his own, without Congressional approval, and to execute “large-scale firings” of federal employees while also moving certain agencies away from Washington, D.C. They argued that reducing federal regulations significantly would lead to a much smaller workforce.

“DOGE aims to collaborate with appointees within agencies to determine the minimal number of employees necessary for them to fulfill their constitutional and statutory responsibilities,” they wrote in their op-ed.

Musk and Ramaswamy, close allies of Trump, have been entrusted with the initiative to “break down government red tape, eliminate unnecessary regulations, reduce wasteful spending, and reorganize federal agencies.” Although referred to as a department, the effort they lead operates more like an advisory commission, lacking formal agency status and legal authority.

The anticipated Trump administration is likely to revive a previous plan to adjust the status of some federal employees to “Schedule F,” thereby removing their job protections among other methods to decrease the workforce.

Musk and Ramaswamy stated that any reduction in federal staff “should at least match” the number of regulations removed. They claimed that fewer employees would be needed to oversee fewer regulations and that the agency would generate even less regulation if its authority is properly restricted.

They did not detail the potential number of employees to be let go or specify which agencies would be affected if their proposal is adopted. They mentioned that “positions cut should be handled respectfully, and DOGE’s aim is to assist in their transition to the private sector,” but did not elaborate on how that transition would occur.

According to them, Trump could utilize existing laws to encourage certain federal employees to retire early and offer voluntary severance packages “to ensure a smooth departure” for those affected.

As the wealthiest individual globally, Musk has rapidly become a prominent figure in Trump’s circle. The president-elect accompanied Musk in Brownsville, Texas, for the launch of the SpaceX Starship.

In their Wall Street Journal piece, Musk and Ramaswamy referenced the Supreme Court’s 2022 West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency and the 2024 Loper Bright v. Raimondo rulings, arguing that many current federal regulations overstep the authority granted to them by Congress.

Their initiative aims to place legal experts within federal agencies to assess regulations and compile a list of rules for Trump to possibly suspend through executive orders and start a review and repeal process.

Musk and Ramaswamy recognized that the “traditional view” might suggest that civil-service protections hinder the president from terminating federal staff. However, they contended that Trump possesses the extensive authority — as established by the Supreme Court’s 2021 Collins v. Yellen ruling — to execute “reductions in force” without specifically targeting individuals.

They also suggested that mandating these employees to return to in-person work five days a week could lead to a “wave of voluntary resignations,” which they would welcome.

“If federal workers don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t bear the cost of paying them for the privilege of working from home during Covid,” they stated.

Opponents, including Democrats, have criticized the initiative, asserting that Trump and his associates aim to undermine government safeguards in vital areas, such as education, environmental protection, and welfare programs. They have also taken issue with Trump for appointing two individuals to manage tasks typically handled by one person, even as Musk

Ramaswamy and his colleague have pledged to forgo salaries for their roles.

In their opinion piece, they stated, “We are entrepreneurs, not career politicians. Our commitment is as outside volunteers rather than as government employees. Unlike traditional government commissions or advisory groups, we won’t merely produce reports or hold ceremonial events. Our aim is to minimize expenses.”