These States Have the Most to Lose From Trump’s New Department of Government Efficiency Initiative

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On Tuesday, the Trump transition team announced that his administration would institute what he is calling the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative led by entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy aimed at reducing bloat and inefficiency in the federal bureaucracy. While details of the proposed department are limited, Musk has been bold in his claims about the reforms he intends to implement, pledging to eliminate at least $2 trillion from the federal budget at an October Trump rally and zealously sharing infographics related to excessive government spending on X since the election.

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If carried out, the drastic cuts could have large ramifications for states with large concentrations of federal employees. While federal civilian activities account for 2.2% of GDP nationwide, in some states the share is much larger. Federal employees working in environmental roles may be at particularly high risk, with the Trump campaign showing hostility toward agencies like the EPA and NOAA. A closer look at the data shows where the federal government contributes most to GDP, and which states have the most to lose from budget cuts.

To determine the states with the most to lose from the DOGE initiative, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on GDP due to federal civilian activities from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and federal employment from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. States were ranked based on the GDP generated from federal civilian activities as a percentage of total GDP for all industries in 2023. Data on federal employment is current as of February 2024.

10. Maine

Pexels / Alex Hill

  • GDP from federal civilian activities: $2.8 billion (3.0% of total GDP)
  • GDP per federal civilian employee: $230,834
  • Federal civilian employment: 12,188
 

9. Oklahoma

Pexels / Masood Aslami

  • GDP from federal civilian activities: $8.0 billion (3.1% of total GDP)
  • GDP per federal civilian employee: $191,286
  • Federal civilian employment: 41,782
 

8. Alabama

Pexels / Pixabay

  • GDP from federal civilian activities: $10.7 billion (3.5% of total GDP)
  • GDP per federal civilian employee: $264,490
  • Federal civilian employment: 40,586
 

7. Alaska

Pixabay

  • GDP from federal civilian activities: $2.7 billion (4.0% of total GDP)
  • GDP per federal civilian employee: $248,995
  • Federal civilian employment: 10,948
 

6. West Virginia

Pexels / Prathyusha Mettupalle

  • GDP from federal civilian activities: $4.4 billion (4.3% of total GDP)
  • GDP per federal civilian employee: $257,497
  • Federal civilian employment: 17,248
 

5. Hawaii

Pexels / Tyler Lastovich

  • GDP from federal civilian activities: $6.0 billion (5.5% of total GDP)
  • GDP per federal civilian employee: $245,379
  • Federal civilian employment: 24,562
 

4. Virginia

Pexels / Hezekiyah Baylor

  • GDP from federal civilian activities: $41.8 billion (5.8% of total GDP)
  • GDP per federal civilian employee: $290,137
  • Federal civilian employment: 144,047
 

3. New Mexico

Pexels / Lad Fury

  • GDP from federal civilian activities: $9.7 billion (7.2% of total GDP)
  • GDP per federal civilian employee: $435,602
  • Federal civilian employment: 22,305
 

2. Maryland

Pexels / Jennifer Murray

  • GDP from federal civilian activities: $54.5 billion (10.6% of total GDP)
  • GDP per federal civilian employee: $382,109
  • Federal civilian employment: 142,685
 

1. District of Columbia

Pexels / Tom Fisk

  • GDP from federal civilian activities: $45.5 billion (25.8% of total GDP)
  • GDP per federal civilian employee: $280,621
  • Federal civilian employment: 162,161
 

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