WASHINGTON ― Joined by Elon Musk in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that seeks to significantly reduce the size of government by instructing heads of federal departments and agencies to undertake plans for “large-scale reductions in force.”

Trump’s newest order directs the federal government to implement a “workforce optimization initiative” created by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which has been moving rapidly from one department to another to slash spending and gut programs.

“It’s not optional to reduce federal expenses, it’s essential,” Musk, wearing a black MAGA hat and joined by his son, X, said in remarks standing next to Trump, who was seated behind the Resolute Desk. Musk called the federal bureaucracy an “unelected, fourth, unconstitutional branch of government” that must be held accountable.

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“The people voted for major government reform and that’s what the people are going to get,” Musk said, responding to detractors who call DOGE’s involvement a hostile takeover. “That’s what democracy is all about.”

Agency heads are ordered to “coordinate and consult with DOGE to shrink the size of the federal workforce and limit hiring to essential positions,” the White House said in a summary of the order.

“Agency heads shall promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force, consistent with applicable law,” the order reads. It states that “all offices that perform functions not mandated by statute or other law” should be prioritized in the cuts.

Musk vows transparency, wants to ‘right-size’ workforce

Trump did not sign the order while reporters were present inside the Oval Office but did so after media members were escorted out, the White House confirmed.

“We’ve already found billions of dollars of abuse incompetence and corruption,” Trump said of DOGE’s efforts to find wasteful spending, which both Trump and Musk repeatedly called “fraud” during a more than 30-minute exchange with reporters.

Their joint appearance marked the first time the billionaire SpaceX CEO has taken questions from reporters in a public setting since he’s assumed power in Trump’s second term. Musk took several questions from reporters, defending DOGE’s accountability and insisting he won’t engage in work that poses potential conflicts of interest. Through SpaceX, Musk has billions of dollars in contacts with the Pentagon.

“All are actions are fully public,” Musk said, adding that observers won’t hesitate about flagging conflicts. “It’s not like people are going to be shy about saying that. They’ll say it immediately.”

The new order comes as Trump’s administration has offered buyouts to nearly all 2.3 million federal employees in a push to drastically reduce the federal workforce. But the offer, which would pay employees through September if they agree to resign, is currently held up in court after a federal judge in Massachusetts extended a pause Monday to hear arguments from both sides in a legal challenge brought by federal employees unions.

The Trump administration has signaled furloughs and layoffs are likely if not enough federal workers agree to the buyouts. More than 60,000 workers have accepted the buyouts, about 2.6% of the federal workforce, which is less than White House projections for 5% to 10% to take part.

“We’re going to try to sort of right-size the federal bureaucracy,” Musk said. “There needs to be a lot of people working with the federal government, but not as many as currently.”

More:Buyout blocked: Judge extends pause on Trump federal worker plan

Order creates new conduct standards for future hires

Under the order, federal agencies are instructed to hire no more than one employee for every four employees who depart after Trump’s day-one executive order that initiated federal hiring freeze expires. Departments involving immigration, law enforcement and public safety are exempted from the requirement.

The order tasks the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to create new rules to ensure future federal hires are subject to additional conduct standards. These include U.S. citizenship requirements and compliance with filing federal tax returns on time.

Heads of agencies are also required to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget within 30 days that identifies the statutes that established their agency.

“The report shall discuss whether the agency or any of its subcomponents should be eliminated or consolidated,” the order reads.

A memo last week from the OPM to department and agency heads requested the names of all employees who received less than a “fully successful” performance rating in the past three years. It also asked them to identify potential barriers to ensuring “the ability to swiftly terminate poor performing employees who cannot or will not improve.”

“What are the two ingredients that are really necessary in order to cut the budget deficit in half, from $2 trillion to $1 trillion?” Musk said. “It’s really two things: competence and caring.”

More:Trump administration orders lists of low-performing employees across federal workforce

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Guided by Musk and his DOGE aides, Trump has spent his first three weeks dismantling the federal government, including shutting down the United States Agency for International Development and taking steps to do the same to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Trump has also discussed trying to eliminate the Department of Education.

Musk’s efforts have created showdowns in court that could ultimately decide whether Trump has the executive authority to dismantle the federal government in the ways his administration envisions. Federal judges have halted elements of the USAID shutdown and blocked Musk’s team from accessing the Treasury Department’s payment systems.

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.