Widespread layoffs sweep federal agencies as Trump administration targets probationary employees

Thousands of probationary federal employees were dismissed on Thursday following a directive from the Trump administration, marking a significant escalation in workforce reductions across government agencies. The move, which has sparked controversy and uncertainty, targets employees with less than a year—or in some cases, two years—of service, as they have fewer job protections and lack the right to appeal their termination.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) conducted a conference call on Thursday, instructing agencies to move forward with layoffs. Federal data from 2024 indicates that over 200,000 employees had been with the government for less than a year, making them particularly vulnerable to dismissal. The latest round of layoffs affected multiple agencies, including the Departments of Energy and Veterans Affairs (VA), following earlier terminations at the Department of Education, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the Small Business Administration.

The shift in strategy comes after months of uncertainty, during which federal employees were placed on paid administrative leave rather than terminated outright. However, the new directive urged agencies to focus on workforce reductions, particularly targeting probationary employees deemed underperforming.

“The probationary period is a continuation of the job application process, not an entitlement for permanent employment,” an OPM spokesperson told CNN. The statement emphasized that the layoffs align with President Donald Trump’s broader initiative to restructure and streamline federal operations.

The execution of these terminations has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from employee unions. Many workers received their dismissal notices through emails, form letters, and even mass video calls. At OPM, around 100 probationary employees joined a Microsoft Teams call, only to be informed of their termination and instructed to leave their workplace within 30 minutes.

The VA, which dismissed over 1,000 employees, justified the move as a cost-saving measure, estimating that the layoffs would save the department more than $98 million annually. Despite this, the vast majority of probationary employees—over 43,000—were exempt from the dismissals.

One VA employee shared a termination notice that cited performance concerns and concluded, “The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.” Similar language was reportedly used in dismissal notices across multiple agencies.

Doug Collins, Secretary of the VA, reassured the public that these workforce changes would not negatively affect veteran services. However, employees at the Department of Energy expressed distress, with one worker describing the abrupt dismissals as shocking and unsettling for both staff and leadership.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has condemned the layoffs, alleging that the administration is abusing the probationary period to carry out politically motivated terminations.

“These firings are not about poor performance—there is no evidence these employees were anything but dedicated public servants. They are about power,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. He warned that the mass layoffs could significantly weaken federal agencies in the long run.

Meanwhile, the CFPB faced additional scrutiny for terminating dozens of term employees—career staff who are employed for fixed durations but typically enjoy civil service protections. Among those affected were technologists working on artificial intelligence projects, raising concerns about the long-term impact of these cuts.

One terminated CFPB employee, who was originally set to remain employed until 2026, received their notice via email shortly after losing access to their government accounts. “It was a job I loved doing, protecting consumers every day,” the employee said, adding that the financial impact on their family would be severe.

The layoffs stem from a new workforce optimization executive order, signed by Trump earlier in the week, which aims to “eliminate waste” within federal agencies. The order also instructs agencies to prepare for broader reductions in force (RIFs) in the coming months.

Reports indicate that the Forest Service and the Department of Energy laid off thousands of employees on Thursday alone. With unions vowing to challenge these dismissals, the battle over the federal workforce is far from over.

As the Trump administration continues to reshape government agencies, the fate of many remaining federal employees hangs in the balance, with further workforce reductions likely on the way.