Washington, February 14, 2025 – The U.S. government initiated mass terminations on Thursday, dismissing thousands of federal employees across multiple agencies as President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk accelerated their aggressive restructuring of the federal workforce. The move, which union leaders describe as unprecedented, is part of a broader effort to reduce government size and spending.
Among the hardest-hit agencies, the Department of Veterans Affairs confirmed it had let go of more than 1,000 probationary employees, while the U.S. Forest Service was set to terminate over 3,000 staff members. Other agencies affected include the Department of Education, the Small Business Administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the General Services Administration (GSA), where mass layoffs were executed over the past 48 hours.
Government officials indicate that most of those fired were recent hires still in their probationary period, making them easier to dismiss without due process protections. However, reports suggest that term employees with set contracts have also been affected, particularly within the CFPB. This has raised concerns about potential legal challenges, as federal employment laws traditionally shield civil service employees from arbitrary dismissals.
The restructuring effort has been spearheaded by Musk’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a temporary task force charged with streamlining government operations. The group has gained access to multiple agencies, including the IRS, where fears are mounting that deep cuts could impact tax enforcement and financial oversight. Critics argue that Musk, who has long advocated for reducing government influence, now wields unprecedented power within the administration.
Meanwhile, a coalition of 14 states has filed a lawsuit in federal court, challenging Musk’s appointment and alleging that Trump illegally granted him unchecked authority without congressional approval.
While the White House defends the move as a necessary step to combat government waste, affected workers, many of whom had received positive performance reviews, describe it as a politically driven purge. One terminated employee at the GSA, speaking anonymously, called the firings a “nightmare,” stating, “I have small children and a mortgage. Up until two weeks ago, this was a dream job. Now it’s all gone overnight.”
Amid growing unrest, the administration claims the layoffs will ultimately save billions in taxpayer funds. Reports suggest that around 75,000 government workers have opted for voluntary buyouts, amounting to approximately 3% of the civilian federal workforce. However, uncertainty looms over the long-term impact of these sweeping cuts, as agencies grapple with potential disruptions in essential public services.
Source: Reuters
