Thousands of probationary employees fired as Trump administration directs agencies to carry out widespread layoffs

The Trump administration broadened its effort to terminate thousands of probationary workers on Thursday, instructing agencies on a call to move forward with the layoffs.

The Trump administration broadened its effort to terminate thousands of probationary workers on Thursday, instructing agencies on a call to move forward with the layoffs. Officials have set their sights on probationary workers, who have typically been employed for less than a year, or two years in some cases, because they have fewer job protections and lack the right to appeal. More than 200,000 employees have worked within the federal government for less than a year, according to the most recent 2024 data from the US Office of Personnel Management, which conducted Thursday afternoon’s call. The culling on Thursday took place at the departments of Energy and Veterans Affairs, among others, and followed terminations of scores of probationary workers earlier this week at the Department of Education, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Small Business Administration. Until recently, federal employees across all government agencies had only been placed on paid administrative leave. Thursday’s directive marked a shift in guidance, as OPM had told agencies earlier this week they did not have to terminate all probationary workers but should focus on those who have been underperforming.