In a recent series of purges led by the Trump administration, numerous federal employees have been abruptly dismissed, leaving agencies and workers in turmoil. President Donald Trump and his advisor, billionaire Elon Musk, claim to be fulfilling promises to reduce federal spending through these cuts. Many terminated employees received letters questioning their performance, even those with positive performance records and awards.
One such former employee, Allie Mitchell, a 30-year-old researcher at the National Institute on Aging, expressed feeling a sense of emptiness, stating, “I feel like I’ve done everything correctly, and yet they terminated us citing performance issues, which is untrue.” The layoffs have affected various agencies, including NPS, NIH, and IRS.
A recent report contradicts claims that only 6% of federal employees work full-time in an office, revealing that 54% work on-site, according to a federal agency report from August 2024. Additionally, foreign aid organizations have urged the Supreme Court to reject the Trump administration’s plea for a funding freeze, citing financial distress caused by the freeze.
Federal workers are now anticipating a second round of emails from their respective departments and agencies, seeking updates on their weekly accomplishments. The new emails will not be issued by the Office of Personnel Management and will allow departments to determine the consequences of non-response.
Last week, significant developments regarding workforce reductions at the Social Security Administration were spearheaded by tech entrepreneur and senior White House adviser Elon Musk, who oversees the Department of Government Efficiency. Reports suggest that the agency, which currently employs 60,000 workers, is planning significant layoffs ranging from 10 to 50%. The potential impact of these terminations on the 72.5 million Americans receiving Social Security benefits remains uncertain. Experts warn that the workforce cuts could lead to processing delays and longer wait times for assistance, particularly affecting seniors in rural areas.
Additionally, various federal agencies experienced repercussions from mandated downsizing this week. The Department of Veterans Affairs terminated 1,400 employees, bringing the recent total to 2,400, while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration let go of over 880 workers, constituting about 7% of its workforce. President Trump hinted at forthcoming cuts at the Environmental Protection Agency, mentioning a possible 65% reduction in staff, which was later clarified to refer to budget cuts.
Further downsizing measures are expected to affect permanent employees with full civil service protections. A memo from the offices of Personnel Management and Management and Budget set a deadline of March 13 for federal agencies to prepare for substantial reductions in force. The memo emphasized the need to address inefficiencies in the government and redirect resources to benefit American citizens. Agencies were also instructed to submit plans by April 14 for possible office relocations to more cost-effective locations outside of Washington.
While some federal workers are being asked to relocate from Washington to other parts of the country, not all employees are subject to this ultimatum. In a separate development, at least two dozen individuals at the Office of Personnel Management were informed via email of their mandatory relocation to Washington.
The deadline for remote workers to make a decision on whether they will accept the offer has been extended until March 7, as reported by Reuters. In the event that these employees, some of whom reside thousands of miles away from the nation’s capital, opt not to relocate, the scope for “continued employment with this agency may be limited, and the Agency may pursue an adverse action against you.” It is crucial for enthusiasts of national parks to be informed that the National Park Service is currently contending with significant layoffs. According to union representatives and government experts interviewed by Reuters, the ultimatum being presented is viewed as a tactic to prompt more federal employees to exit their positions.
In a development that posed a potential challenge to the Trump administration, a federal judge intervened on Thursday to temporarily halt the mass firings that were in progress. Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern California District ruled that the layoffs were likely illegal and directed the Office of Personnel Management to cease the firings. Alsup criticized the OPM for exceeding its authority by dictating personnel decisions within other agencies. He emphatically stated, “OPM does not have any authority whatsoever, under any statute in the history of the universe, to hire or fire any employees, but its own.” It should be noted that Alsup’s order did not mandate the rehiring of individuals who had already been terminated.
This article, originally published on USA TODAY, sheds light on the recent directive from President Trump to implement layoffs and issue ultimatums, bringing attention to the ongoing firings within the federal government.
