Trump DOGE Cuts Unravel as Big Government Rehires Thousands

How Bureaucracy Beats Reform—and Why the “Big Beautiful Bill” Is More of the Same

As the federal debt soars past $36.9 trillion, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—backed by President Trump—was supposed to be the administration’s aggressive push to shrink the size of the bloated federal government.

But now, just months after mass layoffs were announced, agencies are quietly rehiring thousands of those same employees. Meanwhile, the Trump-supported “One Big Beautiful Bill” is adding trillions in new debt, despite GOP promises to cut spending.

DOGE’s Cuts Were Temporary

DOGE made headlines for reducing federal payrolls earlier this year. But the cuts are unraveling fast:

• 260,000 federal positions were slated for elimination through buyouts, early retirements, and firings.
• $2 trillion in projected savings were touted by the administration.
• In reality, only ~$25 billion in net savings materialized after court challenges, emergency rehires, and disrupted services.
• Thousands of federal employees are already being rehired, especially in agencies deemed “critical.”

Key agencies bringing people back:

• FDA (drug approval delays)
• NOAA (weather forecast gaps)
• State Department (diplomatic shortages)
• USDA (food inspection shortfalls)
• Nuclear Security Admin (national security risks)
• Voice of America (critical need for US programming to Iran)

Translation: You can’t just fire your way to efficiency when the federal government is this deeply entrenched.

The Debt Crisis Isn’t Slowing Down

Despite promises to cut waste, the numbers tell a different story:

• Federal debt is now over $36.9 trillion
• Interest on the debt hit $1 trillion annually in 2024—more than the U.S. defense budget
• The U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio is approaching 160%, a historic high

Economists are sounding the alarm:

• Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit outlook.
• Rising debt is expected to crowd out private investment and push interest rates higher.
• Some analysts warn we are nearing a “sovereign debt crisis” if meaningful reforms aren’t enacted.

Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” — Tax Cuts Now, Pain Later

Promoted as a pro-growth, pro-worker reform bill, the “Big Beautiful Bill” is raising eyebrows among fiscal conservatives.

Here’s what’s in it:

• $3.7 trillion in extended Trump-era tax cuts
• Only $1.3 trillion in offsetting spending cuts
• CBO projects the bill will add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over 10 years

Despite Republican enthusiasm, many critics—including Elon Musk and GOP deficit hawks—are calling the bill:

“A tax-cut-and-spend plan with lipstick on it.”

Even some in the Freedom Caucus are privately expressing concern. The bill’s combination of low revenue and rising costs runs counter to long-standing conservative priorities.

Bottom Line: Big Government Keeps Winning

Despite good intentions, the federal government is proving too large and too politically protected to shrink meaningfully:

• DOGE’s layoffs are being quietly reversed.
• Deficit spending continues to accelerate.
• Even GOP-backed reforms are adding to the debt.

What Fiscal Conservatives Should Demand

If we’re serious about saving America’s finances, we need more than headlines. Here’s what should happen:

• Real spending caps: Tie growth of federal budgets to inflation or population growth.
• Entitlement reform: Social Security and Medicare must be addressed structurally—not left to collapse.
• Balanced tax policy: Cut where it spurs growth, but stop pretending tax cuts pay for themselves.
• Agency audits: Require zero-based budgeting so every agency justifies every dollar, every year.

Final Thoughts

DOGE was supposed to drain the swamp. Instead, we’re watching the swamp refill itself with rehires, red tape, and rising costs.

And the “Big Beautiful Bill”? It’s just more of the same: big government wrapped in red, white, and blue ribbon.

It’s time for real fiscal conservatives to stop playing defense and start demanding serious, structural reform—before America’s debt becomes America’s downfall.