President Donald Trump praised the nation’s strong labor performance and shrinking government payroll during remarks at the America Business Forum on Wednesday. Emphasizing private sector jobs, he credited his administration’s policies for driving growth and reducing federal expenses.
Trump announced that roughly 100,000 federal employees had exited the government payroll since January. He noted that government spending dropped 2.5% from the same quarter last year. The president told business leaders that every new position created under his administration came from private enterprise rather than federal employment.
“Since January, 100% of new jobs have come from private employers,” Trump said. “If every job came from government, you wouldn’t have a country.” He added that while he respects public servants, national prosperity depends on private productivity.
According to Labor Department data, the U.S. economy added about 404,000 private sector jobs between February and August of this year. The period marked the first six months of Trump’s second term, reflecting continued job creation despite a partial government shutdown affecting several federal agencies.
However, the shutdown delayed the release of the September and October employment reports, limiting access to updated statistics. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged that the delay complicates assessments of broader labor market conditions.
The administration’s DOGE initiative, introduced earlier this year, offered deferred buyouts to government employees. The program allowed participants to leave their positions while receiving full pay through the end of September. The Labor Department clarified that such individuals remain classified as employed until the end of their payment period.
Trump’s remarks aimed to contrast his administration’s approach with prior policies that expanded federal payrolls. He described the reduction in government employment as essential for fiscal discipline and long-term economic health.
