Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy faced criticism after revealing his plan to downsize the federal bureaucracy. Ramaswamy announced on social media that if elected in 2024, he would immediately fire 50% of federal bureaucrats on his first day in office. His proposed method for determining who would be terminated involved removing government workers whose social security numbers ended in an odd number.
Ramaswamy claimed that his plan would downsize the government without violating civil service rules since mass layoffs were exempt. In a follow-up post, he argued that this approach would prevent bureaucrats from claiming that their firings were politically motivated.
Critics were quick to respond, expressing shock and disbelief at Ramaswamy’s proposal. Some pointed out the arbitrary nature of using social security numbers to determine job security, while others questioned the potential legal consequences and the impact on essential government agencies like the Veterans Affairs.
Ramaswamy, who currently polls at 4% in the GOP race, faced backlash from those who considered his plan impractical and potentially damaging. Former President Donald Trump continues to lead the Republican field with 58% support.
Overall, Ramaswamy’s proposal to fire federal bureaucrats based on their social security numbers received widespread criticism for its lack of meritocracy, potential legal issues, and potential harm to essential government agencies.
