Newly unearthed emails between a Senate staffer and the Interior Department offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into frustration on Capitol Hill earlier this year as staffers and lawmakers sought information about the Trump administration’s rapid government downsizing efforts.
In early May, Interior official Tyler Hassen emailed a Senate staffer details about staffing cuts at the department.
Across the federal government, the Trump administration’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency had been pushing cuts to the workforce. Hassen arrived at Interior as part of the DOGE team before he was promoted in March to a senior position overseeing policy, management and budget for the department.
On May 2, Hassen emailed Daniel Mencher, the Republican clerk for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees Interior’s spending. Hassen sent Mencher some “requested information” about Interior’s voluntary staff downsizing programs by bureau, according to emails released under the Freedom of Information Act.
