Trump Dismantles The Federal Executive Institute
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday eliminating the Federal Executive Institute (FEI), a long-standing institution dedicated to leadership training for government officials.
The move, framed as a step toward reducing bureaucratic inefficiency, is in line with Trump’s broader effort to streamline the federal government and ensure taxpayer dollars are directed toward initiatives with tangible benefits for the American public.
Established in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson, the FEI has served as a training ground for senior federal executives, offering programs designed to enhance leadership skills and organizational effectiveness within government agencies.
Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, the institute has also operated training programs at various sites across the country and internationally, in partnership with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Trump’s order, however, casts doubt on the value of the FEI’s mission. The directive criticizes the institute as an entity that has primarily served to reinforce an entrenched Washington, D.C., bureaucracy rather than directly benefiting American families.
“Bureaucratic leadership over the past half-century has led to federal policies that enlarge and entrench the Washington, D.C., managerial class, a development that has not benefited the American family,” the order states.
The decision to dissolve the FEI aligns with Trump’s broader efforts to curtail what he views as unnecessary federal programs. The order instructs the OPM director to take the necessary steps to eliminate the institute in compliance with applicable law.
Additionally, it revokes prior presidential directives that established or maintained the FEI, including provisions from Executive Order 11348, which originally outlined federal employee training initiatives.
Critics of the move may argue that eliminating the FEI removes an avenue for leadership development that could enhance government effectiveness. However, Trump’s administration maintains that taxpayer resources should be allocated toward priorities that have a direct and measurable impact on the American public.
By dismantling the FEI, the administration signals a shift away from government programs aimed at professional development within the federal workforce and toward policies that prioritize fiscal efficiency and reduced bureaucracy.