These Presidents—Including Trump—Added The Most Federal Workers

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have announced a plan to significantly reduce the size of the federal government, marking a potential shift in a historical trend where presidents have typically increased federal employment. Despite claims that government expansion is driven by the left, data reveals that both Republican and Democrat presidents have overseen varying changes to the federal workforce. Notably, Trump's first term added 73,000 jobs, positioning him among the middle ranks in terms of federal workforce expansion. The current federal workforce numbers are similar to those during Truman's era, though the U.S. population and non-farm employment have more than doubled, reducing the federal workforce's share of total employment.
Musk and Trump are also focusing on cutting federal grants and contracts, potentially impacting the federal workforce subset funded by these means. Trump recently attempted to pause grant funding via executive order, though it was halted by a judicial ruling. Meanwhile, Musk's initiatives have already identified and canceled over $1 billion in what they consider frivolous contracts. The increase of grant and contract workers in the overall federal workforce has risen significantly, highlighting a substantial reliance on these positions, which may face funding threats under the new proposed cuts. This development could have wide-ranging implications for federal operations and the broader workforce landscape.
RATING
The article presents a timely and relevant discussion on federal workforce changes and the implications of proposed reductions, particularly in the context of actions by Donald Trump and Elon Musk. It addresses a topic of significant public interest, with potential impacts on public policy and economic stability. The article is generally clear and readable, with a logical flow that aids comprehension.
However, the article's effectiveness is somewhat limited by its lack of detailed sourcing and transparency, which affects the perceived accuracy and reliability of the information. While it attempts to present a balanced view by discussing historical trends under different administrations, it could benefit from a broader range of perspectives and more explicit citations to strengthen its credibility.
Overall, the article successfully engages with important issues but could enhance its impact and engagement potential by addressing these limitations in sourcing and perspective inclusion.
RATING DETAILS
The story presents several factual claims about the federal workforce and presidential impacts on its size, which are generally supported by data. For instance, it claims that during Trump's first term, 73,000 civil servant jobs were added, positioning him as the sixth-most prolific president in terms of expanding the federal footprint. This is a verifiable fact through federal employment records. However, the story attributes the federal workforce changes to political parties, claiming that since Truman, Republican presidents have overseen a net change of 8,000 federal jobs, compared to -68,000 for Democrats. While this claim can be verified with historical employment data, it lacks immediate sourcing in the text, which slightly impacts its precision and verifiability.
The article also states that the federal workforce is nearly the same size as it was when Truman took office, with a current number of 3.02 million employees. This is a specific and verifiable claim, though it would benefit from direct citation of sources. The statement regarding the percentage of the total U.S. workforce employed by the federal government shrinking from 7.5% to 1.9% is another factual claim that can be validated through historical employment and population statistics.
Overall, while the article makes several verifiable claims, it could improve its accuracy by directly citing data sources for these statistics, thereby enhancing the reader's trust in the presented information.
The article attempts to present a balanced view by discussing the federal workforce changes under both Republican and Democratic administrations. It highlights that both parties have contributed to the expansion and contraction of the federal workforce, countering the narrative that only the 'radical' left has expanded government size. This approach helps mitigate bias by acknowledging contributions from both political spectrums.
However, the article exhibits some imbalance by focusing more on the actions and statements of Donald Trump and Elon Musk, without providing equivalent perspectives or reactions from other political figures or experts who might offer differing views. This could lead to an implicit bias, as the narrative is somewhat skewed towards the perspectives of these two figures, especially in the context of their plans to cut government size.
In summary, while the article does attempt to provide a balanced view of historical trends in the federal workforce, it could benefit from a broader range of perspectives to offer a more comprehensive examination of the issue.
The article is generally clear in its presentation, with a logical flow of information that guides the reader through the main points. The language used is straightforward and accessible, making it easy for readers to understand the key claims and data presented.
However, the article could improve in clarity by providing more context around certain claims, such as the specifics of the executive order signed by Trump and the actions taken by Elon Musk. These details would help readers better grasp the implications of these actions and their relevance to the overall narrative.
Overall, while the article is clear in its structure and language, it could benefit from additional context and details to enhance the reader's understanding of the issues discussed.
The article does not explicitly cite its sources, which affects the perceived quality and reliability of the information presented. While it references data and historical trends, the lack of direct attribution to specific studies, reports, or databases diminishes the authority of the claims.
For instance, the article discusses the changes in federal workforce numbers under different presidents but does not mention the specific sources of this data, such as government reports or independent research studies. This omission can lead to questions about the accuracy and reliability of the information.
To improve source quality, the article should provide clear citations or references to the data sources used, such as government employment records or credible research institutions, which would strengthen the credibility and trustworthiness of the reporting.
The article lacks transparency in terms of disclosing the sources and methodologies used to derive the statistical claims made about the federal workforce. While it presents several data points, such as the number of federal jobs added under different administrations, it does not explain how these figures were obtained or calculated.
Additionally, the article does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest that might influence the perspectives presented, particularly regarding the involvement of Elon Musk in government-related discussions. This absence of transparency can affect the reader's ability to fully trust the information presented.
To enhance transparency, the article should include explanations of the methodologies used to gather data and provide context for the claims made. This would help readers understand the basis of the information and evaluate its reliability.
Sources
YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

Trump, Musk, face blame for setbacks, but are Wisconsin, Florida elections crystal ball for 2026 midterms?
Score 5.0
Trump's government changes aren't a clear political winner or loser -- yet
Score 6.6
Elon Musk’s DOGE “revolution” is a return to tyranny
Score 2.4
Trump Issues Executive Order Including Major Changes To Elections—Here’s What We Know
Score 5.4