President Donald Trump's administration launches an extensive federal workforce reduction targeting probationary employees across multiple government agencies.
According to Fox News, the Department of Veterans Affairs has dismissed more than 1,000 employees as part of Trump's sweeping initiative to decrease the size of the federal government workforce.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued directives to federal agencies instructing them to terminate most probationary workers who haven't secured civil service protection. This decision could affect hundreds of thousands of federal employees who have been working for less than one year.
Mass terminations hit multiple federal departments and agencies
The layoffs have already impacted several government entities including the U.S. Forest Service, Energy Department, and OPM itself. At the Department of Education, at least 39 employees were dismissed on Wednesday, according to union representatives. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also begun terminating probationary workers earlier this week.
In a particularly swift move, dozens of OPM probationary workers received termination notices during a Thursday group call. These employees were given just 30 minutes to leave the building, highlighting the immediate nature of these workforce reductions.
The VA's decision to dismiss over 1,000 employees is projected to generate annual savings exceeding $98 million. The department plans to redirect these funds toward veteran healthcare, benefits, and services.
VA Secretary outlines strategic workforce reduction plan
VA Secretary Doug Collins addressed the terminations, emphasizing the department's commitment to its core mission. He stated:
At VA, we are focused on saving money so it can be better spent on Veteran care. We thank these employees for their service to VA. This was a tough decision, but ultimately, it's the right call to better support the Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors the department exists to serve.
The VA currently employs more than 43,000 probationary workers. However, many of these employees are exempt from the current personnel actions due to their roles in mission-critical positions or their coverage under collective bargaining agreements.
The department has implemented measures to ensure continued service delivery. Each chain of command has been assigned a representative who can request exemptions for essential personnel.
Federal workforce restructuring aims to eliminate government waste
The mass layoffs align with Trump's broader initiative to reduce government spending and inefficiency. The president has enlisted Elon Musk to lead DOGE, demonstrating his commitment to streamlining federal operations.
An OPM spokesperson defended the terminations, explaining that the probationary period serves as an extension of the job application process rather than a guarantee of permanent employment. The spokesperson emphasized that these actions support the administration's efforts to restructure the federal government.
The executive order issued by Trump explicitly directs agency heads to prepare for large-scale reductions in force. These preparations include separating temporary employees and reemployed annuitants from federal service.
Government restructuring signals major shift in federal employment
The Trump administration's aggressive downsizing of the federal workforce marks a significant transformation in government employment practices. The Department of Veterans Affairs' dismissal of more than 1,000 probationary employees represents just the beginning of widespread changes across federal agencies.
These terminations, part of Trump's broader initiative to reduce government waste and inefficiency, will result in annual savings of $98 million for the VA alone. As agencies continue implementing the president's executive order, more workforce reductions are expected across various departments, fundamentally reshaping the federal employment landscape.
