Indeed reports a jump in applications by government workers, especially those at agencies targeted by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Officials in Maryland, New York, New Mexico and Kansas City are among those launching recruitment campaigns targeting federal workers. But matching those workers’ federal salaries and competing with private sector offers will be tough.

Spending by federal workers stimulates local economies. Once they’re laid off, that could affect nearby businesses, like restaurants.

“What is completely uncertain is what the destination looks like,” says Mohamed El-Erian, president of Queens’ College, about the U.S. economy.

Cutting these jobs indiscriminately will “substantially damage the economy,” experts say.

There’s been a lot happening that could affect the job market. But what impacts will actually show up in the numbers?

Workers are surveyed during reference week, the seven days that include the 12th day of the month. February’s reference week happened before a lot of the federal cuts.

Kai Ryssdal speaks with an expert in constitutional and administrative law about how the Trump administration is running the economy.

Wendy Edelberg of Brookings says “political malpractice” might be a bigger risk to economic stability than the government’s massive borrowing.

The Department of Government Efficiency, aka DOGE, is a task force Trump has appointed, headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. It has some lofty resolutions for its stated goal of cutting wasteful government spending.