Trump announces purge of over 1,000 Biden appointees

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President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday plans to remove over 1,000 appointees from the administration of former President Joe Biden, signaling a sweeping overhaul of personnel in key government roles. He made the announcement on Truth Social shortly after midnight, emphasizing his intent to align the administration with his "Make America Great Again" vision.

Trump revealed that four individuals had already been dismissed, including celebrity chef José Andrés and former top general Mark Milley. Andrés, a prominent humanitarian and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom under Biden, was removed from the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. Milley, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was dismissed from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council. Milley’s removal follows Trump's prior criticism of him for back-channel communications with China during his first term.

In addition to Milley and Andrés, Trump announced the dismissal of former diplomat Brian Hook from the Wilson Center for Scholars and ex-Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms from the President's Export Council. “Let this serve as Official Notice of Dismissal for these 4 individuals, with many more coming soon,” Trump wrote in the post, adding his signature phrase, "YOU'RE FIRED!"

The move has sparked concerns about Trump's intent to replace appointees from the previous administration with individuals loyal to his agenda. Critics argue that such actions could undermine the nonpartisan integrity of government institutions.

On Monday, Trump also ordered federal workers to return to the office five days a week, reversing flexible work policies implemented during the Biden administration. He further weakened job protections for civil servants by reinstating "Schedule F," a controversial measure that strips certain government employees of protections, making it easier to dismiss them.

Supporters of Trump's policies argue that these actions are necessary to reform what they view as a bloated and resistant federal bureaucracy. However, opponents warn that these measures could erode institutional expertise and politicize the civil service, as Trump allies aim to replace long-serving officials with individuals aligned with his administration’s goals.

This overhaul marks the latest chapter in Trump's efforts to reshape the federal government, reigniting debates over the balance between political loyalty and institutional independence.