Trump Orders Mass Federal Layoffs in Workforce Reduction Plan \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Trump administration has intensified efforts to reduce the federal workforce by ordering agencies to lay off probationary employees, affecting potentially hundreds of thousands. Elon Musk, tasked with government efficiency, supports eliminating entire agencies. The cuts extend across multiple departments, including Veterans Affairs, Education, and Agriculture, raising concerns about government capacity and essential services.
Trump’s Workforce Reduction Plan: Quick Looks
- Mass Layoffs Ordered – The Trump administration has mandated agencies to fire nearly all probationary employees.
- Elon Musk’s Role – As head of government efficiency, Musk supports drastic agency cuts.
- Agencies Affected – Layoffs impact Veterans Affairs, Education, Agriculture, and more.
- Budget Savings Doubts – Experts say cuts won’t significantly reduce the deficit.
- Remote Work Criticism – Trump insists on ending work-from-home for federal employees.
Deep Look
The Trump administration has launched a sweeping initiative to downsize the federal workforce, aiming to shrink the country’s largest employer. On Thursday, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) directed agencies to dismiss nearly all probationary employees—those who have not yet gained civil service protections. This order could impact hundreds of thousands of federal workers and marks the first phase of broader layoffs anticipated under the administration’s cost-cutting strategy.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier in the week instructing federal agencies to prepare for “large-scale reductions in force,” signaling his administration’s intent to drastically reshape the structure of government employment. The directive is being implemented aggressively, with employees at multiple agencies already receiving notice of impending cuts.
Mass Layoffs and Workforce Downsizing Begin
The decision to lay off probationary employees is part of a larger restructuring effort. Under OPM guidelines, employees typically remain on probation for their first year of service before gaining civil service protections. Data from OPM indicates that as of March 2024, there were approximately 220,000 federal employees in this category. While not all of them are expected to be dismissed immediately, the order suggests that agencies will be expected to make significant cuts.
The impact of the directive has already been felt in several key agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Education were among the first to begin laying off probationary employees, with at least 39 workers at the Education Department losing their jobs on Wednesday. These included specialists in civil rights enforcement, special education, and student aid programs.
Elon Musk’s Influence on Government Downsizing
Elon Musk, who has been granted broad authority by President Trump to oversee federal efficiency efforts through his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has strongly endorsed the administration’s approach. Speaking via video at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Musk suggested that entire federal agencies should be eliminated rather than simply reduced in size.
“I think we do need to delete entire agencies as opposed to leaving a lot of them behind,” Musk stated. “If we don’t remove the roots of the weed, then it’s easy for the weed to grow back.”
Musk’s remarks reflect the administration’s broader ambition to restructure the federal government, with a focus on reducing costs and eliminating what it considers unnecessary bureaucracy.
Impact on Critical Services and National Security
Critics argue that the mass layoffs could have severe consequences for essential government services, particularly in departments handling national security, public health, and scientific research.
Among the hardest-hit agencies is the Department of Veterans Affairs, where researchers working on cancer treatment, opioid addiction, prosthetics, and toxic exposure studies were laid off. Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, condemned the move, stating:
“I’m hearing from longtime VA researchers in my home state of Washington who are right now being told to immediately stop their research and pack their bags—not because their work isn’t desperately needed, but because Trump and Elon have decided to fire these researchers on a whim.”
Additionally, the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, responsible for overseeing food safety standards, has been warned of major staff reductions. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), an organization advocating for government workers, warned that these cuts could undermine food safety regulations and consumer confidence.
“Firing any probationary employees would be a big kick in the gut to those that do very grueling and difficult work,” said PEER’s executive director, Tim Whitehouse. “It would make our food system less safe and cause consumer confidence in the safety of our food supply to dip.”
Will the Layoffs Reduce the Deficit?
Despite Trump’s claims that these cuts will help reduce federal spending, economic experts argue that the financial impact on the national deficit will be negligible. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the federal government spends approximately $271 billion annually on compensating civilian employees, with roughly 60% of that amount allocated to workers in the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs.
Even if the administration were to lay off a significant portion of the workforce, the federal deficit—currently exceeding $1 trillion—would continue to rise due to growing costs associated with entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare.
Paul Light, a professor emeritus of public service at New York University, described the administration’s strategy as counterproductive.
“You’re basically harassing your own workforce at the end of the day,” Light said. “You’re undermining the engine that you want to run.”
More Agencies Bracing for Layoffs
Beyond probationary employees, broader workforce reductions are expected across multiple government agencies. Employees at the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been warned of forthcoming staffing cuts.
A person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, reported that:
- The National Science Foundation has been told to expect workforce reductions of 25% to 50% within two months.
- The Housing and Urban Development Department has been instructed to plan for a 50% reduction in staffing levels.
- Employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are also anticipating significant layoffs.
New Hiring Restrictions and Office Closures
As part of the administration’s cost-cutting measures, Trump’s executive order not only mandates layoffs but also severely limits new hiring. The new directive stipulates that, with exceptions for public safety roles, only one new employee may be hired for every four who leave. Additionally, any new hires will require approval from a representative of DOGE, effectively expanding Musk’s influence over government staffing decisions.
The administration is also working to end government office leases and consolidate federal operations. This move aligns with Trump’s criticism of remote work, as he has repeatedly argued that federal employees should not be allowed to work from home.
“Nobody is gonna work from home,” Trump stated earlier this week. “They are gonna go out, play tennis, play golf… They’re not working.”
Trump’s Deferred Resignation Program and Future Workforce Cuts
The administration had initially attempted to downsize the workforce through a voluntary deferred resignation program, which provided financial incentives for employees to leave their positions. The program, which was structured as a buyout, allowed workers to receive pay until September 30 if they agreed to resign.
According to the White House, 75,000 employees signed up for the buyout program, but the total fell short of the administration’s goals. As a result, Trump has signaled that further workforce reductions will be necessary.
What Comes Next?
With agency layoffs underway and further cuts expected, the future of the federal workforce remains uncertain. While Trump and Musk argue that these measures will increase efficiency and reduce government spending, critics warn that the administration is weakening essential government functions, undermining research, and creating long-term risks for national security and public safety.
As agencies prepare for deeper cuts, federal employees and unions are bracing for potential legal battles and pushback from Congress. The coming months will likely see increased scrutiny over whether these drastic reductions truly serve the interests of taxpayers—or whether they are primarily a politically motivated effort to reshape the federal government.
Trump Orders Mass Trump Orders Mass Trump Orders Mass
You must Register or Login to post a comment.