Federal Job Cuts Underway as Trump Administration Implements Downsizing Plans
The Trump administration has embarked on a significant reduction of the federal workforce, initiating layoffs across various government departments. Federal employees are experiencing uncertainty as layoff notices begin to roll out, with many workers on probation being the first to be affected.
People walk past the U.S. Department of Energy building in Washington, D.C. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Recent hires within probationary periods—ranging from one to two years—are facing layoffs, as the Trump administration moves to streamline government operations. Downsizing efforts are impacting employees involved in education, small business grants, and nuclear stockpile management.
Government data indicates that as of March 2024, approximately 220,000 federal employees had less than a year of service, with another 288,000 having between one and two years. This pool of employees is under scrutiny as the administration seeks cost-saving measures.
President Trump signed an executive order instructing federal agencies to prepare for “large-scale reductions in force.” This initiative, supported by advisor Elon Musk, aims to tackle what they perceive as excessive government spending. Federal employee compensation constituted about 3% of the 2024 fiscal year budget.
Sources within the Department of Energy reported that probationary employees were dismissed abruptly, some without formal notice or severance. The National Nuclear Security Administration, responsible for maintaining nuclear weapons, also saw mass terminations, with around 300 staff expected to be released.
In a statement, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the dismissal of over 1,000 employees, projecting an annual saving of $98 million to be reallocated to healthcare and benefits. The VA emphasized exemptions for mission-critical positions and those under collective bargaining agreements.
Probationary staff at the Office of Personnel Management were also let go, with the Office citing the failure to accept the administration’s “Fork in the Road” deferred resignation offer as a reason for dismissal, according to union sources.
According to AFGE president Everett Kelley, “This administration has abused the probationary period to conduct a politically driven mass firing spree, targeting employees not because of performance, but because they were hired before Trump took office.”
The Department of Education saw at least 60 probationary staffers receive termination notices, while the General Services Administration and other agencies experienced similar upheaval.
Some agencies faced confusion in the notification process. The Small Business Administration erroneously sent out and then retracted termination notices, only to issue them again. Meanwhile, flawed mail merge results at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau led to improperly formatted termination letters.
For more information on these developments, contact NPR reporters: Shannon Bond (Signal: shannonbond.01), Geoff Brumfiel (Signal: gbrumfiel.13), Andrea Hsu (Signal: andreahsu.08)
Contributors to this report include NPR’s Stephen Fowler, Jonaki Mehta, and Laurel Wamsley.
