Federal Employees Face Mass Layoffs Amid Trump Administration’s Workforce Reduction Plan
The Trump administration has launched a sweeping effort to downsize the federal workforce, leading to significant job cuts across multiple agencies. Over the past few weeks, thousands of federal employees have been laid off, and legal battles have emerged in response to the mass terminations.
On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order reinstating Schedule F, a policy from his previous administration that reclassifies tens of thousands of federal employees into at-will positions. This change effectively strips civil servants of long-standing job protections, making it easier to dismiss them for nearly any reason. The executive order also freezes hiring across executive branch agencies, preventing vacant positions from being filled.
A surprise email titled “The Fork in the Road” was sent to all federal employees, offering an eight-month severance package for those who voluntarily resigned by February 6. However, labor unions cautioned workers against accepting the offer, as Congress had not yet approved funding for buyouts beyond March 14.
Federal employee unions filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, arguing that Schedule F undermines civil service protections and allows political interference in hiring and firing decisions. The lawsuits claim that the administration’s actions violate statutory employment rights of career federal employees.
In a move to dismantle USAID, the Trump administration placed 10,000 employees on administrative leave, impacting workers across 60 countries. This action marked one of the most extensive cuts to an agency providing foreign aid and development assistance.
Federal workers received an email warning that refusal to accept the buyout offer could result in furloughs or terminations. Additionally, employees were told that civil service protections would be removed and “loyalty tests” might be implemented for those who remained.
U.S. District Judge George O’Toole issued a temporary restraining order, pausing the administration’s buyout deadline to allow unions time to challenge its legality. However, later that day, the administration ordered all federal departments and agencies to compile lists of their lowest-performing employees.
The administration dismissed multiple officials responsible for protecting federal employees from unjust dismissals, including:
These firings left the agencies overseeing federal employment protections weakened, raising concerns about the future of civil service protections.
Trump signed an executive order instructing agencies to plan for “large-scale reductions in force.” The order prevents agencies from hiring more than one employee for every four who leave and introduces stricter hiring standards, such as requiring U.S. citizenship and ensuring employees have no outstanding federal tax debts.
Judge O’Toole ruled that federal employee unions lacked standing to challenge the buyout program, allowing the layoffs to move forward. Despite the court ruling, only about 75,000 federal employees accepted the offer, far below the administration’s expectations.
Mass firings continued across multiple federal agencies, affecting recently hired and promoted employees. Probationary workers were particularly vulnerable due to their limited bargaining rights. More than 880 employees from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were dismissed as part of the workforce reduction.
The Office of the Special Counsel ruled that the administration’s use of “boilerplate” termination notices violated federal law, which requires specific reasons for termination. The agency requested a review of the dismissals and potential reinstatement of employees.
The Merit Systems Protection Board reinstated six employees while investigations continued, stating that reasonable grounds existed to believe the firings were unlawful. However, broader reinstatements remained under review.
Judge William Alsup of the Northern California District issued an injunction, temporarily blocking additional mass terminations. The ruling criticized OPM’s involvement in ordering agency-wide firings, stating that the agency lacked the legal authority to do so.
With the March 13 deadline approaching, federal agencies have been directed to prepare for further workforce reductions. The administration’s latest memo instructs agencies to eliminate duplicate positions, reduce office space, and develop restructuring plans. While unions and advocacy groups continue to challenge the administration’s actions, thousands of federal employees remain uncertain about their future employment.
The coming weeks will be critical as courts weigh the legality of these workforce cuts and determine whether more federal employees will be reinstated. Meanwhile, protests continue across the nation, with government workers and labor unions advocating for stronger employment protections in the face of sweeping layoffs.
