Probationary employees face easier termination without the appeal rights that career staff enjoy. Even those with longer tenures are not exempt. Doug Berry, who transitioned from real estate to a job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development for more stability, found himself in a challenging situation. Hired as a loan technician in January, Berry opted to become a pathways intern in July to pursue an MBA and advance his career path post-probation. However, his probationary period reset, unbeknownst to him at the time.
Receiving a termination email close to 5 p.m. on a Thursday, Berry’s termination was effective that same business day, leaving him shocked upon his return the following day to find his job vanished. Berry spent an hour clearing his desk and handing over his work to colleagues.
Numerous unions representing government workers have taken legal action against the administration’s dismissal of probationary employees, citing a breach of formal termination processes. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, emphasized that these firings are unjust, as the employees were dedicated public servants.
Under the leadership of billionaire Elon Musk, the Department of Government Efficiency has initiated aggressive cost-cutting measures within federal agencies. A significant portion of the federal workforce was offered buyouts, leading to subsequent layoffs, primarily affecting probationary employees. The exact number of job cuts remains uncertain, but approximately 220,000 federal workers out of 2.3 million had less than a year’s experience in their roles as of March 2024.
Protests outside the USAID building intensified after Musk announced plans to shut down the agency. Despite legal challenges, President Donald Trump remained resolute in his decision, emphasizing the necessity of reducing government size. However, critics, including Senator Lisa Murkowski, expressed concerns over the abrupt layoffs and the distress it caused to federal workers and their families.
As the administration continues its consolidation efforts, the long-term impacts of these actions on both individuals and the nation remain to be seen.
Weeks or months. Asked for a total or estimate on how many workers have been let go, for instance, the Office of Personnel Management on Friday declined to provide USA TODAY with answers.Former workers worry about the communities they were hired to serveVictoria Porter, 28, said she found her dream job riding horses into the backcountry to maintain hiking trails for the U.S. Forest Service in Montana. That all went away Friday, when she said eight other people on her 12-person trail team also were fired.The terminations will have a big impact the community around the forest where she worked, Porter said. Outdoor outfitters and other local businesses rely on the trails as an economic engine for the region. There’s “no way” the trails can be maintained with a drastically smaller crew, she said.“They’ll try their best, but it will mean that hikers can’t get through, it will mean that the outfitters can’t get through and their livelihoods depend on taking people out to the backcountry,” Porter said. “So they will suffer. The communities around here will suffer. It’s going to hit the economy really hard because tourism will drop.”Elon Musk speaks next to President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 11, 2025.Berry also worried about the impact of the terminations on the low-income, rural communities his work reviewing loans and funding for community projects served.”USDA Rural Development helps the towns that voted for Trump every day, and I think there’s a disconnect between understanding that these things are necessary in small-town life and realizing that you just voted to get rid of the water project you need,” he said.”I don’t know where I’m going to end up,” Berry said, now worried that he would have to disclose being fired for anything else he applies to. “I’ve never been terminated for cause in my life, until now.”Moseyko joined the VA in June 2024 in a highly skilled position writing machine learning algorithms. She is confident about getting a new job with her skills, but said the sudden pink slip is taking a mental toll and the immediate financial concerns are worrying. She spent Friday figuring out how to file for unemployment.“Mentally it’s very draining,” she said.Berry has started the process of fighting the decision. Moseyko believes the termination was illegal.”Every one of us who got the exact same form letter without proper process or actual cause have a grievance,” Berry said.Meanwhile, Milburn said she now has to find work that will accommodate her medical condition like her federal job did. She is also upset that most Americans who support cutting government jobs aren’t really aware of the repercussions of the forceful downsizing that will eventually have a trickle-down effect.”When I see people cheering on these broad, sweeping attacks on civil servants as if it’s a good thing, that is incredibly hurtful and
