What do exposing and defunding fraud and waste, buying out or laying off federal employees, freezing the hiring process, and moving agency headquarters out of DC have in common? They’re all effective ways of draining the Swamp – and they’re all being actively pursued by President Donald Trump.
The Donald signed an executive order on Tuesday, April 15, which the administration says “cuts costs” and “brings government to the people” by repealing the actions of past presidents that limited where federal agencies could set up shop. It’s all part of his wider plan to scatter the federal government across the nation. True enough, it does seem likely he will accomplish both of those goals. But don’t miss the other point: It cuts federal jobs, which shrinks the size and scope of the central government. In short, it drains the Swamp.
Trump Brings Government to the People
In 1978, President Jimmy Carter issued an executive order requiring the government to first explore central business districts when looking for office space. Bill Clinton issued a follow-up on that in 1996, encouraging agencies to set up in historic properties and districts. President Trump’s Tuesday order revokes both of them, freeing federal agencies from any requirement to operate in some of the most expensive properties on the market.
“The American people are spread across more than 3.8 million square miles in urban, suburban and rural areas,” the latest executive order reads. “To provide the highest quality services in an efficient and cost-effective manner, executive departments and agencies must be where the people are.”
Now, to be fair, that can be read two ways. First, it means federal agencies should spread out around the country and not be clumped up in Washington, DC. However, it could also be taken to mean they should set up in the most densely populated cities, as that’s “where the people are,” more so than rural, “small town,” or suburban areas. The first point is precisely what Trump intends; the second is not. In any case, moving them out of DC – in most cases – means a reduced overhead as real estate and utility costs are lower in most other parts of the country. That’s especially true in smaller towns, but it also fits many of the bigger cities outside of the nation’s capital.
Cutting Costs by Dropping Jobs
The Metropolitan Council of Governments estimates more than 17% of workers in the DC area are employed by the federal government. “We’re talking tens of thousands, potentially over 100,000 federal workers, that will now be in the job market,” John Boyd of the Boyd Company told Swamp area news affiliate WTOP.
Many may see this as an unfortunate side effect. Trump likely does not, as reducing the size of the government is his other goal, alongside cutting costs and deregulating. Every federal employee who refuses to transfer from DC to wherever in the country the job moves is one more that doesn’t have to be laid off or bought out by DOGE. To spin a phrase so that it’s a bit more applicable and a lot less cruel to cats, there’s more than one way to drain the Swamp.
Eventually, as these departments end up needing more people, this move will also bring more jobs to their new regions. But for now, there’s a federal hiring freeze – and Trump just extended it Thursday to mid-July. So, if NASA's headquarters moves to Florida, Texas, or any other of the several states trying to entice it, anyone who decides to stay behind helps cut operating costs, whether they’re on board with the president’s plan or not.
