Exclusive: DOGE Software Revamp to Accelerate Federal Layoffs as Musk Steps Back

In a sweeping move that may reshape the U.S. federal workforce, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has finalized a software revamp aimed at dramatically speeding up mass layoffs across government agencies.

According to sources familiar with the effort, the updated system—an overhaul of the Pentagon’s old AutoRIF program—has been rebranded as the “Workforce Reshaping Tool”. The tool is designed to automate the complex process of government downsizing, making it significantly faster and more scalable.

The rollout comes as billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who led DOGE since its inception, prepares to step back from the department to refocus on Tesla and his private ventures.

More than 260,000 federal workers have already exited government roles through buyouts, early retirements, or layoffs since President Donald Trump resumed office in January, based on a Reuters tally. Now, with agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs and Internal Revenue Service poised for deeper cuts, the software could become the central tool in a new wave of public sector job reductions.

Faster Layoffs, Bigger Risks

Unlike the previous clunky AutoRIF program, the new web-based version allows HR teams to upload personnel data and process Reduction in Force (RIF) plans quickly, even collaboratively.

“This tool is designed to remove a massive number of federal employees from their positions,” said Nick Bednar, a University of Minnesota law professor monitoring the layoffs. “What DOGE has started is going to continue without Elon Musk.”

But not everyone is convinced the rapid automation is a good thing.

“If you automate bad assumptions into a process, then the scale of the error becomes far greater,” warned Don Moynihan, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan. “It won’t necessarily improve decisions or make them any more acceptable.”

Downsizing at Scale

The software update comes amid an aggressive push by the Trump administration to slash what it sees as bloated federal structures. Entire agencies—like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the U.S. Agency for International Development—have already seen drastic cuts.

DOGE claims to have saved over $160 billion through reduced staffing and contract spending, though few specifics have been shared publicly. The software revamp is one of the first tangible signs of the department’s work.

Still, the rollout hasn’t been without issues. Some workers mistakenly fired earlier this year had to be rehired, highlighting the stakes of handing job decisions over to automation.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is now in charge of deploying the software. Demonstrations and user onboarding are scheduled for the coming weeks. With agencies ramping up for additional layoffs, the tool is likely to be tested—and scrutinized—in real time.

Whether the Workforce Reshaping Tool becomes a symbol of streamlined governance or a cautionary tale of overreach remains to be seen.

{Source: Reuters}

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