Trump Plans to Further Tighten Control Over Hiring and Firing of Federal Employees

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Trump administration is taking steps to further tighten control over the hiring and firing of federal employees. As Tesla CEO Elon Musk retreats from the Washington political scene, the U.S. government is positioning key agencies as an important part of continuous governmental streamlining. This work is focused on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the government's human resources department. According to agency announcements obtained by The Wall Street Journal, as a core part of Musk's governmental reform plan, this office has begun directly approving applications for new positions at federal agencies. This move marks a significant policy shift, as previously agencies typically decided on job allocations independently.