“Substantial restructuring within the airport security agency has caused a significant shake-up,” stated the spokesperson. The terminated positions cut across all levels of the agency, comprising frontline security officers, management personnel, administrative staff, and professional employees. In the year 2024, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened a record-breaking 904 million passengers, marking a 5% increase from the previous year.
There has been controversy surrounding the termination notices issued to probationary workers in various federal departments. Many of these individuals have contested the inclusion of “performance” language in their dismissal letters, claiming they were not previously informed of any performance issues. This situation has sparked outrage among federal workers.
Aside from the TSA layoffs, nearly 400 support staff employees at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were let go over the weekend. The terminated FAA personnel consisted of environmental compliance workers, aeronautical information specialists, and maintenance mechanics responsible for the maintenance of grounds, roads, and facilities. It is mentioned that FAA technicians, aviation safety inspectors, and air traffic controllers were exempt from the layoffs.
While a buyout program was offered to most federal workers for immediate resignations by President Trump, TSA workers were excluded from participating in this initiative. Over 75,000 federal employees opted for the buyouts, which was part of the government’s efforts to reduce its size significantly, following guidance from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
The Trump administration has been swift in terminating probationary workers across federal departments and agencies in a bid to streamline government operations. The exact number of layoffs is estimated to be in the tens of thousands, although the White House has refrained from disclosing a comprehensive government-wide total despite multiple requests for this information.
For further information, refer to Reuters. Contact Joey Garrison at @joeygarrison. This article was originally published on USA TODAY, detailing the termination of over 200 TSA workers under the Trump administration.
