Job Cuts Across Government Agencies

The Trump administration has set a deadline of March 13 for agencies to finalize plans to reduce their workforce through layoffs. The upcoming layoffs are separate from the mass firings of probationary employees. This means that around 25, 000 workers have already been removed from their positions. The Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management have issued guidance to agencies. They were instructed to plan for the "maximum elimination" of federal agency functions not required by law. The agencies are expected to eliminate some offices and slash their regional offices across the country. This will affect around 700, 000 employees. The Defense Department plans to issue RIFs in the coming weeks for 5% to 8% of its civilian workforce. This could mean as many as 61, 000 employees could be let go. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to let go 65% of its workforce, or nearly 11, 000 employees. The EPA spokesperson did not confirm this number, but mentioned that efforts would include "organizational improvements to the personnel structure. " The General Services Administration (GSA) has already sent RIF notices to some employees in its Office of Human Resources Management and Office of Customer Experience. The Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) has issued RIF notices to all employees in the Office of Field Policy and Management. These employees will be terminated on May 18. More widespread RIFs are expected in the coming weeks. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which is leading the workforce reduction effort across government, has sent RIF notices to at least its Office of Procurement Operations and communications staff. Dozens of employees were impacted. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has shut down two offices—the Office of Transformation and Office of Civil Rights. These employees are currently on administrative leave and have not yet received RIF notices. The SSA acting Administrator Leland Dudek is planning to lay off 7, 000 employees in total. The U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is in the process of shutting down virtually the entire agency. It has already sent RIF notices to nearly all of its 2, 000 U. S. -based employees. Overseas staff are largely on administrative leave currently and are expected to receive RIF notices in the coming weeks.