Federal workers across the country reacted with anger and confusion on Friday. The Trump administration ordered agencies to fire probationary employees who had not yet gained civil service protections.
Layoff Notices Sent Nationwide
The administration’s downsizing efforts extended beyond Washington. Workers from Michigan to Florida received termination notices. Some employees who had accepted deferred resignations were still fired. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) admitted mistakes and promised to honor buyout agreements.
Employees Speak Out
Nicholas Detter, a natural resource specialist in Kansas, lost his job via email late Thursday. He criticized the abrupt decision, saying, “None of this has been done thoughtfully or carefully.”
The Scale of the Cuts
The White House and OPM did not disclose how many probationary workers were dismissed. Data from March 2024 showed 220,000 employees had less than a year on the job. Agencies had until Tuesday at 8 p.m. to issue layoff notices.
Veterans Affairs and Other Agencies Affected
The Department of Veterans Affairs dismissed over 1,000 workers, including researchers studying cancer, opioids, and prosthetics. The Education Department fired special education specialists and student aid officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cut nearly 1,300 jobs, affecting one-tenth of its workforce.
Administration’s Justification
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins welcomed the layoffs. “Clearly, it’s a new day,” she said. “The American people believe the government was too big.”
Veterans Lose Jobs
Andrew Lennox, a Marine veteran, was training for a supervisor role at a Veterans Affairs hospital. On Thursday night, he received an email saying he was terminated. “In order to help veterans, you just fired a veteran,” he said.
David Rice, a disabled Army paratrooper, also lost his job at the Department of Energy. He was working on radiation exposure health issues. “It’s just been chaos,” he said. He had just bought a home in Florida after securing his position.
Buyout Agreements Ignored
Some employees agreed to buyouts but were still fired. Detter accepted the buyout, expecting job security until September 30. Instead, he was fired immediately. “You’re just a pawn in a bigger struggle,” he said, blaming Elon Musk’s push to shrink the government.
Legal Challenges Begin
Unions filed lawsuits challenging the terminations. The National Treasury Employees Union warned the cuts would hurt government operations. Democracy Forward requested an investigation into whether the mass firings violated federal personnel rules.
Protests Erupt
Labor activists and government workers protested outside Washington’s Hubert H. Humphrey Building. A federal contractor warned, “First, it’s probationary workers. Then we’re next.”
Impact on the Economy
The layoffs may not significantly reduce the deficit. The government spends $270 billion annually on civilian workers, mainly in defense, homeland security, and veterans affairs. Even if all were cut, the deficit would remain over $1 trillion.
Job Market at Risk
Trump’s layoffs could affect job growth. The last time the U.S. lost jobs was in December 2020 during the pandemic. “Job growth could turn negative soon,” warned Martha Gimbel of Yale University.
Rice believes the layoffs will hurt those they served. “We’re just trying to do something that matters,” he said. “We’re actually out there helping people.”
