logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
16m 37s

How DOGE Cuts Are Impacting Federal Work...

NPR
About this episode
Proposals from DOGE, Elon Musk's entity tasked with making the federal government more "efficient," have resulted in lawsuits, pushback from other federal agencies, and a lot of uncertainty for the millions of people who work for the federal government. We look at what's happened & what's to come.

This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, and correspondents Shannon Bond & Chris Arnold.

The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at
plus.npr.org/politics.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Yesterday
Why Trump Says He Wants To Send The National Guard To Chicago And Portland
President Trump has taken steps to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago and to Portland, Oregon. We discuss how the administration justifies those actions, as well as how Albuquerque, New Mexico, is using that state’s National Guard to fight crimeThis episode: senior White Hou ... Show More
18m 24s
Oct 7
How The Shutdown Is Affecting Federal Workers And Services
The federal government shutdown is in its seventh day, with negotiations on Capitol Hill over reopening the government at a stalemate. We discuss how the shutdown is affecting federal workers and the services they keep running, as well as warnings by the White House that they wil ... Show More
15m 31s
Oct 6
Unpacking The New Jersey And Virginia Races For Governor
Voters in New Jersey and Virginia are casting their ballots in their states’ gubernatorial elections. We discuss the major issues at play and whether federal politics are affecting the races.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Ashl ... Show More
18m 23s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 3
Why did the US government shut down?
The US federal government is closed for business. Democrats and Republicans in Congress failed to agree on a budget to keep the government open. But over two million federal workers who will go without a paycheck during negotiations have a new worry: will President Donald Trump u ... Show More
21m 2s
Oct 1
The Democrats’ Big Shutdown Gamble
The U.S. government shut down on Wednesday morning. For the Democrats, it is an act of resistance against President Trump’s second-term agenda. The question is now whether their gamble will pay off or backfire.In an episode recorded from the Capitol, Catie Edmondson and Carl Huls ... Show More
37m 33s
Apr 2025
100 Days of Trump (Part 4)… Has Elon Musk Changed Government Forever?
This is a special Americast mini series, looking at five ways Donald Trump has changed America in his first 100 days back, as President of the United States. In our fourth episode, Matt Chorley joins Justin and Marianna to discuss large scale cuts to federal government by Elon Mu ... Show More
13m 5s
Oct 6
The ‘Grim Reaper’ of the Government Shutdown
During the continuing government shutdown, President Trump has posted memes depicting Russel T. Vought, the White House budget director, as the grim reaper.Coral Davenport, a Washington correspondent for The Times, explains how Mr. Vought, a once obscure official, has become one ... Show More
36m 54s
Oct 2024
Normally Podcast: Trump & Elon Have Fun...The Left Loses It!
In this episode, Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz discuss the intersection of fast food culture and politics, focusing on Donald Trump's recent campaign event at a McDonald's. They explore the nostalgic and humorous aspects of Trump's persona, his ability to connect with ev ... Show More
32m 34s
Oct 2
The Fight at the Center of the Government Shutdown
As the U.S. government shutdown enters its second day, Democrats are trying to underline that the growing political fight is all about the rising cost of health care.The New York Times journalists Margot Sanger-Katz and Shane Goldmacher explain why the Democrats are betting on th ... Show More
21m 54s
Sep 29
Why the stakes for this shutdown are higher
The deadline for a government shutdown is quickly approaching. If Democrats and Republicans can't make a deal, the government will run out of money after Sept. 30.A government shutdown is always a political gamble. For Democrats, the stakes of this one are even higher. For sponso ... Show More
11m 2s
Aug 29
Why Bosses Have Had It With Office Activists
P.M. Edition for Aug. 29. This week, Microsoft became the latest company to crack down on political dissent among its employees. We hear from WSJ reporter Lindsay Ellis on why corporate leaders are adopting a new, harder-line playbook for dealing with political debate at work. Pl ... Show More
13m 30s
Oct 1
Shut happens: US federal funding stops
After Republicans and Democrats failed to compromise on the budget bill, money to US federal agencies has officially been cut off. Donald Trump threatens “irreversible cuts”. The gaping security flaws in generative AI. And don’t call your colleague a moron, and other tips on how ... Show More
22m 54s
Oct 6
Democrats Accused Of “Playing Politics” As Shutdown Continues
While the government shutdown continues, Congress remains at a standstill on whether it can reopen the government anytime soon. Meanwhile, both Democrats and Republicans are fighting over who is to blame for the shutdown. Last week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of t ... Show More
34m 53s