In early 2025, the Trump administration started to fire federal employees on a vast scale to improve work efficiency. In this article, you will read about how this mass firing has raised potential concerns and impacted the economy, employees’ lives, and the departments most affected by it. Read further to learn how Elon Musk’s DOGE is involved in this tragedy.
Trump’s Mass Layoff: Probationary Employees On Target
Some employees who have joined the federal workforce recently, i.e., for less than one or two years, or who do not have job protections, are the targeted ones for layoffs by the Trump administration.
Reports say employees were asked to leave the premises within 30 minutes after they got informed about their termination by Microsoft teams calls, while others received pre-recorded video messages. CNN says 100 employees at Personnel Management were informed via teams call and asked to leave the building in an hour.
Departments Affected By The Mass Firings
Health Agencies & Department Of Energy
Around 5200 probationary employees were expelled from health agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Feb 2025, employees of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Food and Drug Administration also got notice to resign from their respective roles.
According to a report from Politico, 2000 probationary employees from the agency were fired. Bloomberg reports that some staff who worked with nuclear security were asked back.
Department Of Education
Although the number of terminated workers is still unclear, probationary employees from the general counsel’s office, office of Special Education and Rehabilitation, and Federal Student Aid office got notice of their termination letter this week.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
A federal judge on Friday blocked the dismissal of further terminations as that agency workers wouldn’t be terminated while the lawsuit trials are pending. More than 100 employees were terminated before the pause, as a union representing workers suspended Trump’s efforts to further eliminate from the CFPB.
Federal Aviation Administration
Hundreds of FAA employees received emails that they’d been fired. Professional Aviation Safety Specialist union president David Spero informed the association press that they were fired just weeks after a fatal mid-air crash highlighted the shortage in traffic controllers.
Other departments, including Veterans Affairs, Forest Services, and Small Business Administration, also extended terminations. However, mass layoffs only occur in government departments under CISA, FEMA, and USCIS.
DOGE: A Bold Push For Modernizing Government
In a social media post, Elon Musk compared the government to a broken computer. He wrote,
“Have you tried turning the government off and on again?”
Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, is in the limelight for the minimization of the federal workforce. This bold initiative is designed to foster a more dynamic and cost-effective government. The motive is to modernize federal technology and software to enhance government productivity and efficiency. However, DOGE is scheduled to conclude its outcomes on 4th July 2026, signifying a clear end to this experiment in systematic reform.
Impact Of Mass Layoffs
Economically, the termination on a vast scale affected federal workers as they lost their jobs. The reduction in incomes of these workers and their families can affect local businesses and economic stability. This may also lead to restructuring public services, shifting away the focus from prior programs. Also, the loss of skilled staff and hiring new individuals on such short notice is also a new upcoming challenge.
For federal employees, the tragic drama has created frustration and an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, resulting in low morale. Chances of further layoffs may influence the productivity and commitment to citizens’ service. Political opponents have raised the point that the government is dismissing its duty to serve the public.
Health services are majorly affected as terminations from the health department may cause delays in treatment; however, some of the staff are asked to rejoin, but it is obvious that it will affect the patients.
Although critical agencies, like the FAA, have raised concerns about public safety. The layoffs may affect the emergency responses and regulatory enforcement.
Federal Protections & Employee Rights
Although there are laws that provide provisions for federal employees to protect them against politically motivated dismissals, the process of appealing a termination is still complicated. Using every possible legal option, the Merit Systems Protection Board promised to help them with this job crisis.
“These firings are not about poor performance; there is no evidence these employees were anything but dedicated public servants. They are about power” ~ Everett Kelley.
Wrapping Up
The mass layoffs by Trump’s administration are highlighted because of the ongoing tension between political decisions and employee rights. Elon Musk, being the key decision-maker in this domain, has created chaos among federal employees. As these legal challenges arise, employees remain convinced to fight against them with the help of unions like AFGE and others. Trump-led government is trying to portray it as an act to drive efficiency. However, its economic, social, and health impact could be severe.
