Mass Layoffs Rock Federal Workforce Amid Trump Administration Restructuring

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of federal employees face job loss as the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency initiates sweeping layoffs across various agencies. The drastic workforce reductions, affecting tens of thousands, follow a controversial directive aimed at ‘winding down’ the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and eliminating inefficiencies in government operations.

The scale of the layoffs has shocked many within the federal workforce. Employees from multiple agencies have reported being instructed to prepare for large-scale reductions, with the CFPB preparing to terminate the majority of its 1,700 employees. According to testimony from employees, a phased plan will first cut probationary and term employees, followed by a wave of about 1,200 layoffs, aimed at shrinking the bureau to its legally mandated minimum of just five remaining staff.

“My team was directed to assist with terminating the vast majority of CFPB employees as quickly as possible,” said one anonymous employee identified as Alex Doe. “We were told the CFPB would be eliminated except for the five statutorily mandated positions.”

The restructuring comes at a time when the CFPB’s effectiveness is crucial, having been established after the 2008 financial crisis to safeguard consumer interests amid lending abuses. The workers’ testimony surfaced during a pivotal period for the agency, which has already closed its Washington headquarters and halted operations.

The House Committee has been alerted to these developments with numerous employee unions reporting significant pushback against the planned layoffs. Just before the first round of layoffs was set to take place, a federal judge intervened, blocking the administration’s immediate actions pending a March 3 hearing.

Statistics from the Office of Personnel Management indicate that approximately 220,000 federal employees are in danger of layoffs due to actions taken by the administration, particularly targeting new employees who lack civil service protections. On Feb. 13, it was revealed that the Department of Veterans Affairs dismissed over 1,000 employees who had served for less than two years, impacting critical researchers involved in cancer treatment and other vital health initiatives.

Data show that the Defense Department anticipates reducing its civilian workforce by 5%-8%. Currently, over 700,000 full-time civilian workers are employed by the Defense Department, and cuts are expected to impact thousands of employees.

Amidst this chaos, employees across many departments, including Homeland Security and the IRS, have begun receiving layoff notices. The IRS confirmed it would implement layoffs during the critical tax season, raising concerns about potential disruptions to service.

Federal employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were also told of forthcoming layoffs, affecting nearly 1,300 probationary staff members, which comprises about 10% of the agency’s workforce. Additional layoffs were reported at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration.

Even the Department of Agriculture is not spared; Secretary Brooke Rollins indicated plans to lay off around 2,000 non-firefighting employees under strategies to cut inefficiencies. Meanwhile, a reassessment of critical roles necessary for public safety has become essential, raising questions about job security among vital public servants.

Trump has described these actions as necessary to streamline government processes and reduce waste. However, critics in Congress, including Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, have characterized the firings as a “chilling purge.” With more than 80% of federal employees based outside Washington, the repercussions of these layoffs are expected to have nationwide implications.

This situation is fluid, with further developments expected as employee unions and Congress continue to respond to the sweeping changes initiated by the Trump administration.