by – L. Richardson

Let me tell you something that will make your blood boil, fellow patriots. We’ve been sold a massive lie about the size of our federal government, and it’s time we expose the truth. The establishment wants you to believe they’re ‘reducing’ the federal workforce, but here’s the shocking reality: the federal workforce has remained precisely the same size since 1952, hovering around two million employees, even though our population has more than doubled 1. This is not a problem we can afford to ignore any longer.

But here’s where it gets exciting, and by interesting, I mean infuriating. While the bureaucrats keep feeding us this line about controlling government size through employment, they hide the real story. Let me break down the spending explosion that’s happening right under our noses:

• Nondefense spending soared from 1.5% of GDP in 1925 to 5.1% by 1955 2
• By 1975, it had skyrocketed to 13.9% 2
• Today, we’re looking at a staggering 18.6% of GDP, which translates to $4.90 trillion 2

My fellow Americans, if we had kept spending at the Clinton-era levels of 12.6%, we would have saved $1.60 trillion this year alone – enough to completely wipe out our deficit 2. But no, the swamp creatures keep feeding us this nonsense about employment numbers while they’re bleeding us dry through unchecked spending.

The Real Growth: Federal Spending Since the 1950s

Wake up, patriots! Since the new millennium, the visible government workforce has only grown 8% in the federal sector 3. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The real scandal is in the contract and grant employees, who now outnumber regular federal employees by more than three times 3. That’s right – the shadow government is three times bigger than what they’re showing us!

This isn’t just about numbers on a page but about our future. Every billion dollars in federal spending supports about 30,000 jobs 4. Still, these aren’t real private sector jobs creating value – they’re jobs dependent on your tax dollars! The government’s response to every crisis has been the same: throw more money at it. Look at how they’ve used the COVID-19 pandemic and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as excuses to expand their reach 5. This unchecked spending burdens us with a growing deficit. It distorts the economy, creating a culture of dependency on government jobs. This is a serious threat to our economic stability.

We’re not just talking about a spending problem; we’re talking about a fundamental transformation of our government into a cash-guzzling monster that’s devouring our children’s future. It’s time to stop focusing on the puppet show of federal employment numbers and start slashing where it hurts – the federal spending keeping this bloated system alive.

The Shadow Government:

Contractors and Grants

Fellow Americans, what I’m about to reveal will shake you. While we’ve been focused on the visible face of government, a massive shadow workforce has been quietly growing behind the scenes. The numbers are staggering: the federal government now employs nearly 9.1 million workers, making up almost 6% of total employment in the United States 6.

The Hidden Workforce

Here’s the shocking breakdown of this bloated system:

• 2.1 million federal employees, 6
• 4.1 million contract employees 6
• 1.2 million grant employees 6
• 1.3 million active duty military personnel 6
• Over 500,000 postal service employees, 6

But here’s what should make your blood boil: many taxpayers need to realize they’re subsidizing a ballooning shadow government of some 5.3 million contract and grant employees 6. These contract and grant workers have become the largest segment of Uncle Sam’s “blended workforce,” accounting for between 30 and 42 percent since the 1980s 6.

The De Facto Federal Workers

The tentacles of this shadow government reach far and wide. In 2020 alone, the federal government spent an astronomical $665 billion on contracts, up by $70 billion from the previous year 7. The tech sector, aerospace industry, and countless other fields now employ millions of workers who are essentially federal employees through contracts 6.

What’s even more infuriating is how they’re trying to normalize this takeover. They’re now calling it a ‘blended workforce’ with fancy terms like ‘partnership talent’ and ‘borrowed talent’ 8. But let’s call it what it really is – a massive expansion of government control through the backdoor. This ‘blended workforce’ is a clever disguise because the federal government increasingly relies on contract and grant employees, essentially federal in all but name, to carry out its functions. We demand transparency in how our government operates.

The situation has become so complex that even Congress and the president can’t honestly know whether this blended workforce puts the right employees in the right place at the right price 9. And get this: during the wars on terrorism and Obama’s economic stimulus plan, this shadow workforce exploded to 3.4 contracts and grant employees for every 1 federal employee 9.

Wake up, Patriots! This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about control. These aren’t just jobs; they’re chains binding more and more Americans to the federal government’s payroll. The only way to break these chains is to cut off the flow of federal dollars that keeps this shadow government alive and growing. We can’t afford to wait any longer. It’s time to demand immediate cuts in federal spending and challenge the practices that allow this bloated system to persist.

The DOGE Deception

Patriots, hold onto your hats because what I’m about to expose about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will make your head spin. This so-called ‘efficiency department’ is nothing but smoke and mirrors – it’s not even an actual government department 10! It’s a deceptive ploy to make us believe they’re working to reduce government spending when, in reality, they have no legal authority to make the changes they’re promising.

DOGE’s Noise vs. Reality

Let me break this down for you. Musk and Ramaswamy are promising the moon with their theatrical performance:

• Mass layoffs of federal employees 10
• Elimination of remote work 10
• Promises to slash $2 trillion from federal budget 11
• Cutting 75% of federal civilian workers 11

But here’s the kicker: DOGE has absolutely zero legal authority to make any of these changes without action from Congress or the White House 11. It’s all just a grand show, folks! Even if they eliminated every single federal civilian employee, it would only save about $270 billion annually 11. That’s not even close to their promised $2 trillion in cuts!

Excuses for Inaction

Now, they’re trying to sell us this story about civil service protections being the significant barrier. They suggest these protections aren’t as strong as we think 12, hoping the Supreme Court’s conservative majority will back their play 12. But this is just another smokescreen!

The truth is, DOGE is nothing more than an “outside volunteer” operation 12 – a group of small-government crusaders making recommendations that carry no accurate weight 13. They’re giving themselves until July 4, 2026, to conclude their work 13. That’s right, patriots – they’re already making excuses for not delivering immediate results!

What gets my blood boiling is how they’re using these civil service protection arguments to distract from the real issue. While putting on this show about firing bureaucrats, they completely ignore the massive spending feeding the shadow government of contractors and grant workers.

Remember this: Any attempts at mass firings would get tied up in court battles that could take years to resolve 12. Meanwhile, the spending machine keeps churning, the contractors keep multiplying, and your tax dollars keep flowing into this bloated system. It’s time to stop falling for the theater and demanding real action on federal spending!

The Solution:

Cut Federal Spending

Listen up, America! While they’re playing musical chairs with federal employment numbers, I’m here to tell you about the real solution that will drain this swamp. The answer isn’t complicated – it’s about cutting off the money supply to this bloated beast we call federal spending.

The Simple Truth

The establishment doesn’t want you to understand that Federal policymakers must change course dramatically. The evidence is clear-cutting government spending would revitalize our economy by shifting resources from wasteful government activities to productive private sector uses 14. Let me lay out the stark reality:

• The federal government allocates 17% of its budget to state and local grants, 15
• States and localities received an unprecedented $145 billion in fiscal relief during the Great Recession 15
• Federal spending has created a massive dependency, with state payrolls declining by 2.6% and local payrolls by 3.3% between 2008, 2012, 15

The Impact on Employment

When we cut federal spending, something remarkable happens. The market’s natural mechanisms kick in, allocating resources to their most productive uses 14. We’re not just talking about trimming fat but fundamentally transforming government operations.

The impact would be immediate and decisive:

1. Lower borrowing costs would boost housing market activity 16
2. Increased consumer spending would drive business investments 16
3. Higher sales and corporate tax collections would follow 16
4. More resources would remain in the private sector 14

The Ripple Effect

But here’s where it gets exciting, Patriots. When we cut federal spending, we don’t just affect direct federal employees—we create a cascade effect throughout the system. State and local governments, addicted to federal grants, would need to adapt or die 15.

The math is simple: States and localities use federal funds for healthcare, income support, education, and other services 15. Cutting this funding forces these entities to become more efficient or reduce their bloated workforces. This isn’t just about saving money – it’s about restoring the proper balance between federal and local control.

The evidence shows that cuts in public spending lead to increased private investment and faster growth 17. When we reduce public spending by just one percentage point of GDP, we see an immediate increase in private investment 17. This effect is particularly pronounced when we cut public sector wages, leading to a cumulative increase in private investment of 2.77 percentage points after five years 17.

This isn’t about destroying jobs – it’s about creating actual, productive employment in the private sector where it belongs. Every dollar we keep out of government hands is a dollar that can create genuine value in our economy. It’s time to stop feeding the beast and start nurturing the American spirit of free enterprise and innovation.

The Historical Context

My fellow Americans, let me share a shocking revelation about the historical deception that’s been pulled over our eyes for decades. The establishment wants you to believe they’re controlling government size. Still, I have the actual numbers that tell a different story.

Decades of Misleading Numbers

The truth about our federal workforce will make your jaw drop. While the visible federal workforce has remained almost constant since 1984 18, the reality behind these numbers is far more sinister. Let me expose the facts they don’t want you to see:

• Contract employees: 3.7 million 18
• Grant employees: 1.6 million 18
• Active-duty military: 1.3 million 18
• Postal service workers: 492,000 18

This adds up to a staggering 2.6 contract or grant ratio for each federal employee 18. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! During the Obama administration, the actual size of the federal workforce ballooned to about 11.3 million 19 before temporarily dropping to 9 million. But here’s the kicker – despite his promises, Trump opened the contract and granted floodgates, adding more than 2 million jobs to this blended workforce 19.

Per Capita Decline

Now, they’ll try to tell you that government employment has been shrinking. Technically, they’re not lying – the federal workforce as a % of the total American population has declined by 20. In fact, the federal workforce is slightly smaller than it was 50 years ago, even though our U.S. population has increased by nearly two-thirds during that time 20.

But here’s where the real deception lies: While the visible workforce appears to be shrinking, the complexity and number of services provided has increased by 20. The percentage of professional and administrative employees has risen by 11.3 percentage points since 1998 20, while clerical positions dropped by 5.1 percentage points 20.

The most infuriating part? Defense and security-related agencies now account for over 70% of the federal workforce 20. This military-industrial complex has become a breeding ground for contract spending, with civilian employees at the Department of Defense agencies alone accounting for about 36% of the civilian federal workforce 20.

This isn’t just about numbers – it’s about a systematic deception that’s been going on for decades. While they show declining employment figures, they’re quietly building an army of contractors and grant recipients who are bleeding our treasury dry. The truth is war and peace have played a much more significant role in shaping the size of our government than any of their fancy hiring freezes or employment caps 9 [31].

The Military-Industrial Complex

Brace yourselves, truth seekers, because what I’m about to reveal about the military-industrial complex will make everything we’ve discussed so far look like child’s play. The defense industry has created a feedback loop of corruption that would make even the most hardened swamp creature blush.

Trump’s Spending Spree

Despite campaign promises to drain the swamp, the Trump administration became willing to participate in the military-industrial feeding frenzy [32]. Let me show you the shocking numbers:

• Defense contractors donated $10.2 million to Armed Services Committee members before crucial votes 21
• House members voting “yes” to budget increases received an average of $151,722 in contributions 21
• Those voting “no” only received $42,967 on average 21
• The defense industry poured $83 million into political campaigns in just two election cycles, 22

And what did they get for their “investment”? The Pentagon’s budget exploded to $886 billion – more than twice what it was during Eisenhower’s time when he first warned us about this monster 22. In 2020 alone, Lockheed Martin received $75 billion in Pentagon contracts – more than the entire State Department and International Development Agency budgets combined 22!

The Pentagon’s Black Hole

Here’s where it gets even more infuriating. The Pentagon failed its seventh consecutive audit 23, and they’re not even ashamed about it! They can’t account for half their $3.8 trillion in assets 24, yet Congress keeps shoveling more money.

The corruption runs deep, patriots. The defense industry employs 820 lobbyists – more than one for every member of Congress 22. And get this – over two-thirds of these lobbyists came straight from government jobs 22. Elizabeth Warren’s office found that nearly 700 former high-ranking government officials now work for defense contractors 22.

The jobs argument is also a complete sham. The weapons sector employs just one million people compared to 3.2 million in the 1980s 22. But here’s the real kicker: Spending on education, green energy, healthcare, or infrastructure could create 40% to 100% more jobs than Pentagon spending 22.

This isn’t just about wasteful spending anymore – it’s about systematic looting of our treasury by the military-industrial complex. They’ve created a self-perpetuating machine that feeds on your tax dollars while delivering less and less actual defense capability. It’s time to slash this corrupt system at its roots by cutting off its lifeblood – federal spending.

Call to Arms for Patriots

Rise up, fellow freedom fighters! After exposing the rot in our system, it’s time to turn our righteous anger into decisive action. The facts are clear: federal spending has exploded more than ten times since the 1950s 14, while the visible workforce barely doubled. This isn’t just mismanagement – it’s a deliberate strategy to hide the actual size of government behind a curtain of contracts and grants.

Demand Real Change

The time for half-measures and empty promises is over. Recent data shows that cutting spending, not raising taxes, is the path to fiscal health. When governments choose spending-based reforms, their economies typically decline by less than 0.5% 25, compared to the 2% decline seen with tax-based approaches 25.

Here’s what we must demand from our representatives:

• Immediate cuts to federal contract spending, which hit a staggering $665 billion in 2020 26
• End categorical eligibility in welfare programs, saving $112 billion over ten years 26
• Convert Medicaid to block grants, saving $600 billion over a decade 26
• Eliminate wasteful student loan forgiveness programs, saving $22 billion 26

Reclaim Our Nation

This isn’t about partisan politics anymore, patriots. The evidence is overwhelming: markets are innovative and constantly fixing mistakes, while governments are rigid and often need to fix failed policies for years 14. Every dollar we keep in private hands is a dollar that creates real value instead of feeding the bureaucratic beast.

The establishment wants you to believe that cutting government spending would hurt the economy. They’re dead wrong. Studies show that reducing federal spending shifts resources from lower-valued government activities to higher-valued private activities 14. This isn’t just economic theory – it’s common sense!

We’re facing a critical moment in our nation’s history. The federal government has expanded into countless areas that should be left to state and local governments, businesses, charities, and individuals 14 [33]. This expansion isn’t just wasteful – it’s destroying the very fabric of our American society.

The solution is simple but requires courage: we must cut spending to reduce interest costs and the government’s chokehold on our economy 14. When we cut federal aid, we reduce budget deficits and improve the performance of federal, state, and local governments 27. The idea that federal “experts” can efficiently solve local problems with rule-laden subsidy programs is not just misguided—it’s dangerous to our liberty 27.

Remember this, patriots: fiscal responsibility isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about preserving the American way of life, where hard work and innovation – not government handouts – drive success. Every dollar we cut from federal spending is a victory for freedom, a step toward restoring the America our founders envisioned.

The swamp creatures will fight back. They’ll tell you it can’t be done. But we know better. The time for action is now. Join us in this fight to slash federal spending, starve the bureaucratic beast, and return power to where it belongs – in the hands of the American people.

Conclusion:

The Path Forward

Patriots, we stand at a critical crossroads in American history. Through this deep dive into federal spending, we’ve exposed the massive deception hiding behind employment numbers. At the same time, our tax dollars feed an ever-growing beast of government contractors and grant recipients.

Make no mistake – the facts speak for themselves. Since the 1950s, federal spending has exploded tenfold while the visible workforce barely doubled. This shadow government of 5.3 million contract and grant workers now dwarfs the official federal workforce, bleeding our treasury dry through unchecked spending.

The military-industrial complex perfectly exemplifies this corruption. Failed audits, missing billions, and an army of lobbyists continue draining our resources while delivering less actual defense capability. Meanwhile, the establishment keeps feeding us lies about employment numbers and civil service reforms.

Let me be clear: Slashing federal spending isn’t just an option—it’s our patriotic duty. Studies prove that cutting government spending and not raising taxes creates real economic growth by shifting resources from wasteful bureaucracy to productive private enterprise. Each dollar we keep out of government hands strengthens American liberty and innovation.

Fellow patriots, the time for action is now. We must demand immediate cuts to federal contract spending, end wasteful welfare programs, and convert federal aid to block grants. Only by starving this bloated beast can we restore the America our founders envisioned – where success comes from hard work and innovation, not government handouts.

The swamp creatures will resist, claiming it can’t be done. But we know better. Together, we’ll slash federal spending, destroy their shadow government, and return power to the American people—where it belongs. The future of our republic depends on it.

References

[1] – https://nffe.org/press-release/17908/

[2] – https://www.cato.org/blog/century-federal-spending-1925-2025

[3] – https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/economy/spotlight/government-workforce-rebound.html

[4] – https://www.americanprogress.org/article/government-spending-can-create-jobs-and-it-has/

[5] – https://ourpublicservice.org/fed-figures/a-profile-of-the-2023-federal-workforce/

[6] – https://mises.org/mises-wire/want-cut-federal-workers-just-cut-spending

[7] – https://www.gao.gov/blog/snapshot-government-wide-contracting-fy-2020-infographic

[8] – https://www.govexec.com/management/2023/07/fresh-look-federal-workforce-and-skills-needed-solve-todays-pressing-problems/388701/

[9] – https://www.dmi-ida.org/download-pdf/pdf/The%20True%20Size%20of%20Government%20Tracking%20Washington%E2%80%99s%20Blended%20Workforce.pdf

[10] – https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2024/11/trumps-doge-commission-promises-mass-federal-layoffs-ending-telework/401111/

[11] – https://taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/what-trumps-doge-team-gets-wrong-about-federal-workforce

[12] – https://www.eenews.net/articles/musks-shock-and-awe-approach-to-slashing-government/

[13] – https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/trump-2-0-implications-for-federal-1711820/

[14] – https://www.cato.org/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policymakers-9th-edition-2022/cutting-federal-spending

[15] – https://www.brookings.edu/articles/state-and-local-budgets-and-the-great-recession/

[16] – https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2024/09/18/what-the-federal-reserves-policy-shift-means-for-state-and-local-budgets

[17] – https://www.nber.org/digest/jan00/how-government-spending-slows-growth

[18] – https://www.volckeralliance.org/resources/true-size-government

[19] – https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-true-size-of-government-is-nearing-a-record-high/

[20] – https://ourpublicservice.org/fed-figures/fed-figures-2019-a-snapshot-of-the-federal-workforce/

[21] – https://www.citizen.org/article/military-industrial-complex-contributions-report/

[22] – https://jacobin.com/2023/05/military-industrial-complex-pentagon-budget-weapons-manufacturing-influence-revolving-door

[23] – https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3967009/department-of-defense-completes-seventh-consecutive-department-wide-financial-s/

[24] – https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2024/11/25/take-7-pentagon-fails-another-audit/

[25] – https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2018/03/alesina

[26] – https://www.cato.org/blog/spending-cuts-2025

[27] – https://www.downsizinggovernment.org/fiscal-federalism

[28] – Baxter, D., & Casady, C. (2020). A Coronavirus (COVID-19) Triage Framework for (Sub)National Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Programs. Sustainability, 12(13), 5253.

[29] – Baxter, D., & Casady, C. (2020). A Coronavirus (COVID-19) Triage Framework for (Sub)National Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Programs. Sustainability, 12(13), 5253.

[30] – (2024). The Impact of Financial Development on Renewable Energy Consumption: The Case of Vietnam and Other ASEAN Members. International Journal of Financial Studies, 12(2), 37.

[31] – Baker, K. S. (2018). User Experience as Organizational Ethos Focused on Quality: A Case Study of UX-Receptive and UX-Reluctant Workplace Cultures. https://core.ac.uk/download/217197470.pdf

[32] – Trump’s pay-to-play allegations are detailed in the New York Times report. https://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/trump-pay-to-play-allegations-detailed-in-new-york-times-report-93639749953

[33] – Starving the beast – Cal Thomas. http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/thomas120617.php3

[34] – Kroenig, M., & Starling, C. (2023). U.S. Lessons from Russia’s War on Ukraine. Asia Policy, 18(2), 64-74.

[35] – https://www.infowars.com/posts/want-to-cut-federal-workers-just-cut-spending

[36] – https://mises.org/mises-wire/want-cut-federal-workers-just-cut-spending

[37] – https://cdn.mises.org/inline-images/total%20emp%20graph.png

[38] – https://cdn.mises.org/inline-images/employment.png

[39] – https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/438242-the-federal-government-is-the-largest-employer-in-the-nation/

[40] – https://www.pogo.org/analysis/contractors-and-true-size-of-government

[41] – https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-true-size-of-government-is-nearing-a-record-high/

[42] – https://cdn.mises.org/inline-images/federal%20workers.png

[43] – https://www.highergov.com/reports/765b-federal-gov-contract-awards-2023/?ref=os

[44] – https://cdn.mises.org/inline-images/federal%20awards.png

[45] – https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4992913-pentagon-fails-7th-audit-in-a-row-but-says-progress-made/