Erosion of Institutions & Norms
Gutting federal agencies; undermining watchdogs and inspectors general; disrupting data transparency; mass firings of career officials; dismantling oversight capacity
Why This Score
This category scores 8/10, placing it in the High tier (7-8): “Systematic hollowing out, data suppression, mass purges of career officials”
- 1.Federal workforce losses now exceed 350,000 departed (up from 300,000+ two weeks ago); OPM pursuing further reductions as 'priority number one'; Schedule F active with agencies submitting reclassification petitions for 50,000+ positions (TIME/Federal News Network)
- 2.Inspector general offices lost 16.6% of workforce — exceeding government-wide average; SSA IG office caught altering report on call wait times; replacement IGs have partisan ties and oversight agency histories (Public Citizen/Common Dreams)
- 3.National Security Archive published 'Disappearing Data Chronology' documenting 8,000+ web pages and 3,400+ datasets removed from public access; CDC, Census Bureau, FDA, EPA, NOAA hardest hit; data covering decades of health, education, and civil rights research (National Security Archive)
Score History
Firing of 17 inspectors general in single action; courts ruled action unlawful but declined to order reinstatement; DOGE gained access to sensitive federal payment and personnel systems
322,000+ federal employees departed (largest reduction in US history); 75%+ IG positions vacant; 8,000+ web pages and 3,000 datasets removed from public access; layoff moratorium expired
Scoring Rubric
Independent civil service, robust oversight mechanisms, routine reorganization
Elevated departures, some data access concerns, political pressure on civil servants
Significant workforce reductions, IG independence compromised, loyalty tests for officials
Systematic hollowing out, data suppression, mass purges of career officials
Agencies non-functional, transparency destroyed, complete politicization of government
Key Findings
Federal workforce losses now exceed 350,000 departed (up from 300,000+ two weeks ago); OPM pursuing further reductions as 'priority number one'; Schedule F active with agencies submitting reclassification petitions for 50,000+ positions (TIME/Federal News Network)
Inspector general offices lost 16.6% of workforce — exceeding government-wide average; SSA IG office caught altering report on call wait times; replacement IGs have partisan ties and oversight agency histories (Public Citizen/Common Dreams)
National Security Archive published 'Disappearing Data Chronology' documenting 8,000+ web pages and 3,400+ datasets removed from public access; CDC, Census Bureau, FDA, EPA, NOAA hardest hit; data covering decades of health, education, and civil rights research (National Security Archive)
Related Executive Actions
View all →Scenario Outlook
All scenarios →Reinforces protections for independent agency heads across government
Unprecedented gap in central bank leadership undermines institutional credibility
Temporarily halts reclassification of career civil servants
Accelerates loss of institutional knowledge and independent expertise
Restores independent oversight capacity
Destroys the constitutional check of judicial review
Fundamentally alters separation of powers
Strengthens merit-based government operations
Accountability mechanisms activated
Restores congressional oversight, subpoena power, and funding leverage
President gains power to fire heads of FTC, FCC, NLRB, SEC, CFPB, and other independent agencies
Criminal investigation of sitting Fed Chair unprecedented; signals willingness to criminalize institutional independence
Accountability mechanism activated; IG investigation demonstrates watchdog independence
Congressional oversight further weakened as elected officials prioritize presidential loyalty
Congress reasserts constitutional role over commerce