The Trump administration has executed one of the largest workforce reductions in federal history, terminating over 200,000 probationary employees across various government agencies.
This bold move, as reported by multiple sources, underscores President Donald Trump’s commitment to his promise of reducing the size of government and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.
According to the latest data from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), there were approximately 220,000 federal workers who had not yet completed their probationary period as of March 2024.
An additional 288,000 employees had between one and two years of service at that time, according to GBH.
These are individuals who, under civil service laws, can be let go without the extensive legal processes required for removing tenured employees.
The administration’s directive to agency heads was clear: evaluate and terminate those who have not met performance standards or whose positions are deemed non-essential in the pursuit of leaner, more effective government operations.
The Trump administration was clear in the beginning and laid out their plan of widespread federal layoffs among workers if they refused to accept a generous buyout offer.
Trump officials told CNN that the layoffs, which are being called sweeping “Reductions in Force,” are expected to begin shortly after the Thursday deadline that the Office of Personnel Management set for workers to accept the resignation package.
Federal News Network reported:
A source familiar with OPM’s decision-making told Federal News Network that OPM met with agencies and provided them with guidance to fire probationary employees, with “case-by-case exceptions,” including as public safety.
The source described OPM’s communication to agencies as “soft guidance,” and that “agencies independently can decide how to move forward.”
An OPM spokesperson told Federal News Network that “the probationary period is a continuation of the job application process, not an entitlement for permanent employment.”
However, probationary employees in many cases are only supposed to be removed for underperformance or misconduct.
“Agencies are taking independent action in light of the recent hiring freeze and in support of the president’s broader efforts to restructure and streamline the federal government better to serve the American people at the highest possible standard,” the spokesperson said.
Probationary periods for federal employees typically last for one year. In less common circumstances, certain agencies and federal positions require two-year, or even three-year, probationary periods. Generally, longer probations are reserved for law enforcement officers and certain employees at the Defense Department.
Terminations occurred in various departments, including Energy, Veterans Affairs, Education, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Small Business Administration.
Read more:
INCOMING: President Trump Fires Dozens of Employees in Department of Education and SBA
According to far-left CNN, employees received termination notices via emails, form letters, and video calls.
At OPM, dozens of probationary employees were fired on a Microsoft Teams call.
Between 1,200 and 2,000 workers were laid off at the Department of Energy, including hundreds from the office overseeing the nuclear stockpile.
Nearly 1,300 probationary employees, accounting for about 10% of CDC’s workforce, were let go.
Approximately 3,400 probationary employees were terminated at the U.S. Forest Service.
The VA dismissed more than 1,000 employees, saying it would save over $98 million annually.
According to the VA Department:
The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced the dismissal of more than 1,000 employees.
Those dismissed today include non-bargaining unit probationary employees who have served less than a year in a competitive service appointment or who have served less than two years in an excepted service appointment.
The personnel moves will save the department more than $98 million per year, and VA will redirect all of those resources back toward health care, benefits and services for VA beneficiaries.
There are currently more than 43,000 probationary employees across the department, the vast majority of whom are exempt from today’s personnel actions because they serve in mission-critical positions – primarily those supporting benefits and services for VA beneficiaries – or are covered under a collective bargaining agreement.
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