Mass Layoffs of Federal Workers Spark Anger, Uncertainty, and Protests

NEW YORK (AP) — A wave of mass layoffs in the federal workforce has ignited widespread anger, confusion, and public outcry as employees across the nation face abrupt job losses. The Trump administration’s aggressive push to downsize government operations has resulted in probationary employees—those yet to qualify for civil service protections—being dismissed en masse.

While much of the focus has been on restructuring Washington’s bureaucratic framework, the effects are being felt nationwide. As federal agencies issue layoff notices, workers from Michigan to Florida are reeling from sudden terminations, sparking protests and legal challenges.

Confusion and Chaos as Firings Unfold

In a sign of the disorder surrounding the layoffs, some employees who had already accepted the administration’s deferred resignation plan—allowing them to remain on payroll until September 30—were nonetheless issued termination notices. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which serves as the federal government’s HR department, acknowledged on Friday evening that some notices may have been sent in error and reassured that buyout agreements would still be honored.

“This has been slash and burn,” said Nicholas Detter, a former natural resource specialist in Kansas, who was fired via email late Thursday. He expressed frustration over the lack of consideration for the employees impacted and the communities they serve.

“None of this has been done thoughtfully or carefully,” Detter added.

The White House and OPM have not disclosed the number of probationary workers dismissed so far. According to government data from March 2024, approximately 220,000 employees had less than a year of service.

The administration has given agencies until 8 p.m. Tuesday to finalize layoff notices, according to a source familiar with the plan who spoke on condition of anonymity.

A Sweeping Effort to Shrink Government

The layoffs mark the latest phase in the administration’s broader effort to reduce the federal workforce. Spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk, who leads the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, the initiative follows an executive order issued by President Trump directing agencies to prepare for “large-scale reductions.”

An initial voluntary buyout offer resulted in only 75,000 workers accepting severance, prompting the administration to turn to direct terminations.

Widespread Job Losses Across Agencies

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the dismissal of more than 1,000 employees with less than two years of service, including researchers working on critical issues such as cancer treatment, opioid addiction, and military burn pit exposure.

Dozens of Education Department employees, including special education specialists and student aid officials, were also let go, according to their union.

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1,300 probationary workers—about 10% of the agency’s workforce—were informed of their terminations on Friday morning. The decision stunned agency leaders, according to a federal official present at the meeting, who spoke anonymously.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signaled more layoffs ahead, stating, “Clearly, it’s a new day,” while citing voter support for a smaller federal government.

Personal and Economic Fallout

For many, the layoffs have come as a shock. Andrew Lennox, a Marine Corps veteran and VA employee in Ann Arbor, Michigan, received an abrupt email Thursday notifying him of his termination.

“In order to help veterans, you just fired a veteran,” said Lennox, 35, a former infantryman who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.

Similarly, David Rice, a disabled Army paratrooper working as a foreign affairs specialist at the Department of Energy, was dismissed Thursday evening, despite prior assurances that his job was secure.

“It’s just been chaos,” said Rice, who had recently purchased a home in Melbourne, Florida, after securing the position.

While Rice supports efforts to improve government efficiency, he criticized the administration’s “random, scattershot approach” to the layoffs.

Legal Challenges and Protests Emerge

Labor unions and advocacy groups have swiftly responded. The National Treasury Employees Union filed a lawsuit Thursday, arguing that the terminations violate federal employment protections.

“Terminating trained probationary employees will have a devastating impact on agency missions and government operations,” said NTEU President Doreen Greenwald. She noted that many agencies were already severely understaffed due to years of budget cuts.

On Friday, Democracy Forward, a legal advocacy group, filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, calling for an investigation into the legality of the mass firings.

Protests erupted outside federal buildings, including the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, where demonstrators expressed solidarity with affected workers.

“They’re picking us off, one by one,” said one federal contractor who declined to give her name for fear of reprisal. “First, it’s the probationary workers, then we’re next.”

Political Fallout and Economic Implications

The layoffs have drawn criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska stated on X (formerly Twitter), “Indiscriminate workforce cuts aren’t efficient and won’t fix the federal budget.” She criticized agencies for failing to provide clear answers on the cuts.

Despite the administration’s claims of cost savings, experts argue that the layoffs will have minimal impact on the national deficit. The federal government spends approximately $270 billion annually on civilian employees, with about 60% of those funds allocated to the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs. Even eliminating all civilian federal workers would still leave the U.S. with a budget deficit exceeding $1 trillion.

Moreover, the cuts could negatively impact national employment figures. Analysts predict that the February jobs report could reflect a downturn in hiring due to the loss of government positions and associated contractor layoffs.

“Given everything that is happening in the federal government, it is very plausible that job growth could turn negative,” said Martha Gimbel, executive director of the Budget Lab at Yale University.

For the dismissed workers, the personal impact is profound. “We’re just out here trying to do something that we actually believe in, that matters,” said Rice, the former paratrooper. “I really believe that we’re actually out there helping people.”

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Reporting by Jill Colvin and Michelle L. Price in New York, Brian Witte in Annapolis, and Mike Householder in Detroit. Additional contributions by Fatima Hussein, Josh Boak, Will Weissert, Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington, and Mike Stobbe in New York.