Ramaswamy says he would fire 75% of federal workforce if elected US President

WASHINGTON: Indian American-Republican presidential aspirant Vivek Ramaswamy has said he would fire more than 75% of the federal workforce and shutter several major agencies like the FBI if he wins the 2024 elections, as he continued to put forward strident proposals that have helped him stand out in the crowded primary field.

In an interview with American news website Axios, Ramaswamy said that his targets would be the department of education, the FBI, the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, and the commerce department.

"We would start on day one, and we want a 50% reduction by the end of year one," he was quoted as saying.

"Keep in mind that 30% of these employees are eligible for retirement in the next five-year period," Ramaswamy, 38, said. "So it is substantial - no doubt about it - but it's not as crazy as it sounds," he said.

According to Axios, Ramaswamy says his eventual goal would be to cut the federal civil workforce of 2.2 million people by 75 % after four years.