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What percent of government spending is due to federal employee payroll?

I heard it was 3% to 5%. If so, then 20% layoffs would save < 1%.

Unless they have a "trickle down/up" effect?

Similar data downthread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43246891

But then those 20% stop spending money which has a knock on impact on the rest of the ecomony

What if we make it accomplish 20% less but spend 10% more money?

Ah yes but you see, all that government spending was just waste. So in the mind of the administration (or at least their public statements) they have miraculously achieved the second case.