The administration of President Donald Trump executed widespread layoffs on Thursday and Friday throughout federal government agencies, impacting thousands of employees who had been with their positions for less than two years.
These terminations hit some of the most esteemed federal bodies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as lesser-known offices that play vital roles in national security, such as the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which is responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
The layoffs, targeting employees labeled as “probationary,” mark another move in the extensive plans by Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk to reduce the government’s footprint.
Typically, new hires in the federal sector undergo a probationary period that lasts a year or more, during which they possess limited protections, rendering them more vulnerable to termination by the Trump administration.
The abrupt cuts occurred just before a long President’s Day weekend, with some CDC employees reportedly given only two hours to gather their belongings and vacate the premises, per reports from a CDC staff member.
Many employees expressed shock, not only regarding their own situations but also concerning the potential ramifications for the nation stemming from a less effective federal workforce.
“The loss of expertise we just witnessed is unbelievable,” stated a nuclear safety professional at the NNSA who was terminated on Thursday. She noted her role involved ensuring safety at nuclear facilities across four states. She requested anonymity like many others affected by the layoffs.
The Trump administration executed these job reductions unilaterally, without Congressional approval, raising concerns that the moves violate the Constitution’s separation of powers, which grants Congress authority over federal spending. Over 60 lawsuits against the Trump administration contest claims of executive overreach and other violations.
Reports indicate that the firings impacted more than 3,000 employees at the U.S. Forest Service and over 1,000 at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
According to the Office of Personnel Management, hundreds of thousands may be impacted, although the total number of layoffs has not yet been fully determined. OPM officials reportedly began the layoff process on Thursday, advising agency heads to let go of probationary employees.
“The probationary period signifies a continuation of the application process, not an assurance of permanent employment,” OPM clarified in a statement on Friday.
“Agencies are taking autonomous steps amid the recent hiring freeze and in pursuit of the President’s broader agenda to reorganize and streamline the federal government for optimal service to the American populace,” the office added.
McLaurine Pinover, an OPM spokesperson, mentioned that she did not have a complete count of the terminations because agencies are required to submit their totals by 8 p.m. Tuesday. She confirmed that no federal agency was entirely exempt from the layoffs and noted that these firings were distinct from any initiatives undertaken by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
These mass layoffs add to a “deferred resignation” option provided by the Trump administration, which encourages federal workers to voluntarily resign later in exchange for continued pay for several months. Approximately 75,000 individuals had accepted this offer as of Wednesday, as stated by the White House; NBC News has been unable to independently verify this figure.
The administration’s objective is to potentially reduce the federal workforce by up to 10%.
Musk has downplayed any concerns regarding the adverse effects of these cuts. In a social media update at 1:42 a.m. on Friday, he likened the government to a malfunctioning computer.
“Have you tried turning the government off and on again?” he posted on X.
Musk and Trump are slated for a joint interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Tuesday.
Federal employee salaries represent roughly 6.6% of the overall budget, indicating that even extensive layoffs are unlikely to yield a significant change in the government’s budget deficit.
In the federal landscape, a probationary period applies to new hires and those transitioning to different roles, independently of their performance.
A Department of Housing and Urban Development employee provided NBC News with a performance review indicating an “exceeds fully successful” rating but received notice on Friday of their termination as part of workforce restructuring, with the communication stating no rights to grievance processes.
At various agencies, it appears that the administration is employing a blunt approach rather than a refined one.
Senior management at HUD was informed in meetings to prepare for an anticipated overall workforce reduction of up to 50%, according to two HUD employees, though formal notices had not yet been disseminated.
At the Environmental Protection Agency, hundreds of employees received termination notifications on Friday via an email sent around 5 p.m., according to Marie Owens Powell, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238. Powell, representing 8,500 EPA staffers, disclosed that at least 300 employees she represents had been dismissed.
The email instructed employees present at the office to “immediately return your EPA badge, laptop, parking hang tag, travel credit card, office keys, and any other property belonging to the EPA.”
“Many individuals weren’t present; they were already at home,” Powell noted. “People are understandably upset and distressed.”
At the CDC, almost 1,300 probationary employees were affected, amounting to about 10% of the agency’s staff, according to The Associated Press.
An ex-technologist from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau who was let go on Thursday mentioned that, although they were coping personally, they were anxious about the agency’s dismantling.
“I’m devastated by the implications for consumers and the CFPB’s ability to shield them from predatory practices,” they remarked.
“I joined the government to serve the public and offer protection, and by eliminating our tech staff, they’ve severely hampered the CFPB’s capacity to investigate misconduct by major tech companies entering the consumer finance sector,” they added.
The CFPB was established relatively recently, in 2011, as a Congressional response to the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, aimed at addressing unlawful debt collection practices and other abuses, while many Republicans argue that its regulations are excessively burdensome for legitimate businesses.
Musk and Trump have proposed shutting down the CFPB along with other federal agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Education Department.
At the Energy Department, probationary employees faced termination on Thursday and were briefed about an impending large-scale “reduction in force” set to commence within 30 days, a source familiar with the briefing revealed. This plan included guidelines for many employees to return to physical offices by the end of March, according to the source.
A document released on NASA’s website, dated Tuesday, suggests the space agency is also planning a workforce reduction, although it does not specify the extent. A NASA spokesperson stated on Friday that the agency is “complying with the guidance and direction provided by OPM” and that it’s “premature to discuss the potential impact on our agency.”
While there is a divide among Americans on whether the government should expand or contract, numerous federal agencies have garnered considerable public approval. According to a survey conducted last year by the Pew Research Center, NASA ranks as the third most-admired federal agency with 67% of U.S. adults holding a favorable view, while the CDC is ranked fourth, with 55% support.
Currently, many dismissed workers face severe personal challenges, particularly in a struggling job market.
“Personally, I’m terrified,” said the former NNSA nuclear safety expert. This ex-employee has three children, including two who are autistic and need additional support. The ex-employee remarked that their husband is tied to a job in New Mexico, their family’s home.
“I may have to relocate without my husband and kids to secure employment,” she mentioned, but this could prove challenging “due to the influx of laid-off federal workers entering the job market.”
At the NNSA, termination notifications were dispatched via email with the subject: “Notification of Termination During Probationary/Trial Period.”
Democrats and progressive advocacy organizations have sought ways to counteract these cuts, emphasizing the potential consequences for public services.
“Firing such a significant number of essential employees concurrently could hinder our government’s ability to provide BASIC services,” expressed Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, in a post on Bluesky, noting that other affected agencies included the Small Business Administration and the Department of Education.
Protesters braved freezing temperatures on Friday for a “Defy DOGE” demonstration outside the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Speakers accused Musk of aiming to enrich himself further, and one protest sign read: “No one voted for Elon Musk.”
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon defended the department’s adjustments.
“HHS is adhering to the Administration’s guidance and taking measures to support the President’s broader agenda for restructuring and optimizing the federal government. This aims to ensure that HHS serves the American populace at the highest and most effective standard,” he stated in an email.
The Trump administration had been secretly laying the groundwork for these firings for weeks by assembling lists of recently hired personnel still within their probationary periods—prior to the full civil service protections being implemented.
At times, the process has appeared haphazard; for instance, the CIA forwarded its list of probationary employees in an unclassified email, raising concerns that foreign adversaries could access it.
