In Veterans Affairs centers located in Detroit and Denver, staffing cuts have resulted in the cancellation of various health initiatives and have left homeless veterans without a designated coordinator to assist them in securing housing and arranging deposits.
In Alabama, reductions in staff at the Education Department have hindered attempts to ensuredisabled children gain entry into classrooms.
In California, Yosemite National Park halted new bookings for over 500 camp sites during the busy summer season due to uncertainties regarding staff availability.
An unprecedented effort to
reduce the size of the federal workforce
is hindering operations at governmental locations nationwide and causing unforeseen repercussions for the services that Americans depend on.
The U.S. government is the biggest employer in America, with
2.4 million non-military employees as of January
, apart from the postal service. The Trump administration has begun eliminating tens of thousands of positions as part of a program promoted by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which seeks to
decrease the scale of governmental operations
By $1 trillion for this fiscal year, approximately 15% of what was spent last year. The aim is to reduce a workforce that President Trump claims includes numerous individuals who
aren’t doing their jobs
Oxford Economics, which offers data services and consultancy, predicts that the total number of federal employees will decrease by approximately 200,000 individuals by the conclusion of 2025.
In the corporate world, according to employment lawyers, large firms may dedicate several months to evaluating their staff’s job performance, roles, and abilities prior to implementing significant layoffs. These corporations involve high-ranking executives in suggesting which employees should be retained, meticulously review labor agreements, and facilitate the application process for unemployment benefits for terminated workers. This preparation is crucial to ensure that the remaining workforce remains capable of handling their tasks effectively, as these professionals explain.
The Trump administration has followed very few of those conventions up until now.
Managers state that crucial employees have been reduced, and they argue that the administration has not adhered to specific guidelines for implementing extensive layoffs. Federal organizations have offered voluntary severance packages.
tens of thousands of individuals
, fired probationary workers—a term for those who were
hired or promoted
In the last one or two years—and with plans for significant cutbacks in the coming months—many reductions so far have not considered employees' performances or the importance of their positions.
Two judges on Thursday
halted the dismissals of probationary employees
At organizations such as the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, similar actions could occur. Probationary employees typically have limited safeguards against termination. However, any dismissals must follow due process, emphasized U.S. District Judge William Alsup based in California.
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stated that the Trump administration would promptly challenge Judge Alsup’s directive. Although certain provisional workers may resume their positions due to these court decisions, their job security is still questionable considering the ongoing legal battle and the proposed reductions within the agencies involved.
Proponents of the restructuring argue that the government's workforce needed a transformation, as the previous significant initiative occurred during President Clinton's tenure. Republicans have lambasted these agencies for permitting federal workers to
work remotely
Well beyond the pandemic, a habit they claim has rendered them less responsible. Trump has instructed employees to
return to the office
.
In the Oval Office, Trump informed journalists this month that he wished to end "those who aren't working, those not showing up, and facing numerous issues." He mentioned that the administration is dealing with an unprecedented level of redundancy.
In interviews, over 60 current and former federal employees stated that extensive budget cuts have degraded the quality of services provided to Americans and hampered the efforts of the remaining workforce focused on enhancing healthcare and reducing energy costs. This situation has also led to additional issues.
discouraged top talent
from serving in the federal government.
From schools to campsites
Personnel reductions have led to diminished or delayed services in areas such as healthcare, education, and even services like weather forecasting.
Following years of bipartisan criticism from Congress, the Department of Health and Human Services brought aboard a transplant surgeon towards the end of last year to assist with implementing improvements to the system overseeing organ transplants.
Dr. Jayme Locke, having resigned from her position at the University of Alabama Birmingham to take up a role with the federal government, has been dismissed as a provisional employee. Specialists in organ transplantation were looking forward to seeing her lead an era focused on implementing changes rather than merely examining them. When approached for remarks, Dr. Locke chose not to comment. The Department of Health and Human Services also did not reply to requests seeking their input.
In Albany, N.Y., and Gray, Maine, weather balloons that gather data on temperature, humidity, and wind are not being launched as frequently. Additionally, launch activities have ceased entirely in Kotzebue, Alaska, because of staff shortages within the National Weather Service.
National Parks and other federally owned lands are reducing their operating hours.
visitor centers
Over 700 park service workers accepted the government's retirement package, as mentioned in an email viewed by The Wall Street Journal. Approximately 1,000 probationary staff members were let go, reported the National Parks Conservation Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to advocacy.
A representative from the Department of the Interior chose not to disclose information regarding staff counts but mentioned that the organization is enhancing financial accountability and effectiveness. Starting next week, Yosemite National Park will initiate the process for accepting summer reservations at certain campsite locations. Additional spots might open up based on increased operating limits, as stated in a statement posted by an authorized park account on Friday. Sources close to the matter indicated that the postponement was due to uncertainties surrounding employee availability. According to the spokesperson, the park plans to provide further updates on reservation procedures later this year.
In Oregon's Yaquina Head, which is part of the Bureau of Land Management's coastal zone, operations have been scaled back with reduced hours and suspended lighthouse tours due to potential beach access restrictions at the rocky Cobble Beach. This follows the loss of three out of their seven-person permanent team, as mentioned by Sabrina Gorney, who was among those let go from her probationary position.
"Guests will discover that the available services are quite restricted," stated Gorney, aged 24, who previously served as a seasonal worker at Yaquina Head and was elevated to a permanent position earning $21.50 an hour starting in August.
Gorney’s termination letter, which was reviewed by the Journal, stated that her skills did not align with the department’s requirements. Within less than a year, she had been awarded three performance accolades.
Victoria DeLano, aged 52, served as an equal-opportunity specialist at the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, she handled complaints of discrimination involving schools across the southeastern United States.
Around a month following her termination, OCR offices in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, and New York were shut down as part of the Education Department’s reductions.
around 50% of its employees
.
There has been a buildup of complaints, which has hindered attempts to secure educational opportunities for disabled children in an office where employees were already overwhelmed with their workload, according to her statements. "Until proper arrangements are made, a child cannot attend school at this moment," stated DeLano, who has campaigned against these reductions via her union, the American Federation of Government Employees.
A spokesperson mentioned that OCR intends to adopt increased mediation along with an expedited procedure for handling cases related to disabilities as well as other forms of harassment complaints.
"The committed team at OCR will fulfill their legal obligations," stated Madi Biedermann, who serves as the department’s deputy assistant secretary for communications.
Several offices attempted to rehire the dismissed employees. In March, the Merit Systems Protection Board, an independent federal agency, halted the dismissals of around 5,900 probationary workers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The department stated they would reinstate these individuals with full compensation.
Jeffrey Grant, who serves as the deputy director for operations at a division of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, mentioned that out of the 82 employees terminated, 29 have been brought back into the fold—20 due to their specialized roles, with the remainder not being part of the initial probation period. He also noted that some of those let go from his team contributed to enhancing the procedures through which Americans signed up for health care plans via the Affordable Care Act.
He stepped down preemptively due to expected widespread layoffs and subsequently sent a letter to the acting chief human capital officer at HHS, stating, "All of these individuals possessed the necessary abilities, expertise, and competencies required for us to fulfill our objectives."
Not ‘safe’
Across numerous regions of the nation, the employment reductions initiated under the Trump administration have affected services and groups that he had promised to safeguard.
One of these is the Department of Veterans Affairs, planning to reduce approximately
70,000
Positions have been eliminated and thousands of employees have already been let go. The agency currently employs around 470,000 individuals.
A smaller number of Veterans Affairs staff members are processing claims for veterans seeking treatments related to service-connected injuries and mental health issues, according to two present employees. One employee mentioned this situation has led to extended wait times for medical care in North Texas.
In Denver, fifteen homeless veterans receiving assistance at a VA community resource center have lost their designated housing advocate, Brett Taylor, after he was let go from his position where he helped find apartments for clients and ensured they had necessary deposits. The remaining employees mentioned that they were already overwhelmed with workloads.
"You might assume that adding more service providers and personnel would ensure better care for the veterans," stated Taylor, a 37-year-old Army veteran with experience in Iraq.
Following the dismissals of probationary employees, such as Kara Oliver—a 33-year-old Navy veteran who was overseeing classes and tracking patients' health and development—one VA facility in Detroit terminated initiatives aimed at enhancing patients’ stability and mobility.
Oliver, who earned approximately $48,650 annually, discovered she had been let go when she arrived at the office on February 25 and found she could not log onto her computer. She mentioned that her official dismissal notice—which would have helped with applying for unemployment benefits—only reached her on March 5.
I want to support our veterans," she stated. However, the uncertainty of government employment has made her question whether she would accept a federal position down the line. "It simply feels insecure.
Pete Kasperowicz, the VA press secretary, stated that the organization has terminated 2,400 provisional workers from roles such as public relations specialists, interior designers, and diversity, equity, and inclusion coordinators. He mentioned these layoffs represent approximately half a percent of the total VA staff.
"The idea that these layoffs are creating problems throughout the department is incorrect," he stated.
Performance reviews
Following Trump's inauguration, his administration significantly reduced the workforce across various agencies, teams, and employee sectors, only to reintroduce some personnel subsequently. Initially targeted were entities like the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Authorities aimed at scaling back these divisions' operations and dismissing numerous staffers.
Established following the 2008 financial crisis, the CFPB looks into grievances from U.S. citizens claiming that their banking institutions imposed unjustified charges or misrepresented interest rates.
Matthew Pfaff, who serves as the chief of staff for the CFPB’s Office of Consumer Response, stated during a court proceeding that over 16,000 complaints—which he considers unprecedented in his recollection—accumulated when the unit was directed to halt operations for several weeks.
The layoffs also affected ongoing projects. One of the terminated employees at the CFPB was Milo Chang, aged 22, who had started working with them in June via a scheme aimed at attracting recent college graduates to careers in public service instead of more profitable roles in fields like management consultancy, tech, or banking. Last year, his group examined grievances filed across Missouri to Texas; these were from individuals coerced into refinancing their home loans at increased interest rates following significant life events such as divorces or bereavements. On Sunday, he discovered that he will be reinstated because of one of the court decisions made on Thursday, yet his job situation still seems uncertain.
Several other organizations have terminated probationary staff members due to performance issues, often bypassing performance evaluations.
Traci DiMartino, a human capital official at the IRS, stated in an affidavit that assessing the performance of 6,700 provisional employees would have required several weeks or even months.
That didn't occur: 'The matter was addressed candidly during conferences,' she stated.
She declined to endorse the termination notices and was placed on administrative leave leading up to potential dismissal, partly due to being described as "disobedient and non-cooperative with DOGE staff" in her statement. The IRS did not reply to requests for comments.
Keith Camire, who is 48 years old, got one of those letters. He began working for the IRS in September with the aim of making IT expenditures more efficient. According to him, his colleagues are now rushing to take over his former responsibilities.
Camire from Milford, Pennsylvania, mentioned that he cast his vote for Trump on three occasions. He expressed that although he doesn’t object to reducing the size of the government, he disagrees with how these reductions are being implemented without discrimination.
“He asked whether the task at hand was as crucial as that of police, firefighters, or border guards,” referring to his current project. “While not directly related to public safety, ensuring financial transparency and discipline is vital, and this is precisely what DOGE aims to achieve.”
Deeper cuts
More significant reductions are anticipated over the next few months as organizations move into the subsequent stage of the downsizing: a process known as Reduction-In-Force, which is a meticulously governed procedure rarely employed within governmental bodies. The entities received instructions stating they needed to specify by last Thursday the number of roles projected to decrease due to employee departures, terminations, an executive order mandating a halt in new hires, along with plans for potentially dismantling certain departments' operations.
A previous high-ranking governmental officer compared the procedure to preparing a cake using a recipe with 20 steps, emphasizing that leaders have to review the guidelines repeatedly. It’s crucial to consider factors such as employees' length of service, their veteran status, and their performance when conducting layoffs.
On Wednesday, the Office of Personnel Management informed federal agencies that provisions within collective-bargaining agreements which "unduly restrict management's authority" to terminate employees are unenforceable. The office also encouraged agencies to avoid addressing each data-request submission from labor unions.
In a recent series of reductions, officials at the Energy Department might have to justify roles using only 200 characters, as reported by two individuals familiar with the procedure.
In February, according to a former official, teams pinpointed probationary employees who played crucial roles in ensuring public safety, protecting the environment, maintaining health standards, or working in other essential sectors.
Nevertheless, certain probationary employees who were let go proved crucial for nuclear sites, that individual noted. Although some have been brought back, the organization will now rely more heavily on external contractors.
Andrea Woods, a representative from the DOE, stated that the department is exploring methods to boost efficiency as they work towards their objective of "empowering America’s leading position in global energy markets and enhancing our national energy security."
Send the message to Lindsay Ellis
lindsay.ellis@wsj.com
