Washington, March 13 (V7N) – President Donald Trump has made significant changes to the federal workforce during the first two months of his administration. His efforts are focused on reducing the size of the federal workforce, restructuring agency operations, and increasing his control over agency employees, including both appointees and career civil servants.

Trump’s overhaul has been guided by key figures like billionaire Elon Musk and a team focused on government efficiency. The administration has already laid off tens of thousands of federal employees across various agencies, including the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Internal Revenue Service, and the National Institutes of Health.

In a campaign interview with conservative YouTuber Shawn Ryan, Trump accused career federal employees of harming the country and described them as “crooked” and “dishonest.” He used this perspective as justification for downsizing the federal government. Despite claims that the federal workforce is “bloated,” government employment has remained relatively stable for decades, fluctuating between 1.8 and 2.4 million employees since the 1960s, while the U.S. population has grown significantly from 203 million in 1970 to 331 million in 2020.

The Trump administration has set a deadline for federal agencies to submit mass layoff plans for permanent civil servants, with some layoffs already happening at the Veterans Affairs and Education departments.

Here’s a breakdown of the key changes Trump has implemented so far:

  1. Buyout Offer to Federal Employees
    About 75,000 federal employees accepted buyout offers made by Trump soon after he took office. This figure, representing roughly 3.3% of the 2.3 million federal workers, was below the expected 5% to 10%. The buyouts offered eight months of pay and benefits in exchange for immediate resignation, though unions warned workers not to trust the deal given the looming March 14 funding deadline.

  2. Firing Probationary Workers
    Since February, thousands of probationary federal employees have been laid off. Probationary workers, who are typically new hires or those promoted, face limited protection against firing. Many of those fired received standard letters citing poor performance, despite good reviews or awards. Some argue these firings are unjustified, and a court ruling last week stated that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) lacked authority to order these dismissals.

  3. New Performance Review System
    Trump has reformed performance reviews for high-level managers in the Senior Executive Service. These executives now face tougher standards, and those with poor reviews can be reassigned or fired. Trump has the power to make exceptions, such as granting performance bonuses or preventing dismissals. Additionally, a reintroduced classification called Schedule F allows Trump to hire and fire certain employees who advocate for policy changes, even if they do not agree with administration policies.

  4. Union Contract Revisions
    Trump’s administration has moved to invalidate union contracts negotiated by the Biden administration. This includes a memo from Trump directing that contracts signed in the final 30 days of Biden’s tenure, such as one protecting telework for Department of Education employees through 2029, will not be honored. The Department of Homeland Security also announced on March 7 that it would end collective bargaining for 47,000 airport security workers.

  5. Return to Office Mandate
    On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order mandating that federal employees return to in-person work, ending the flexibility provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, 54% of federal workers were required to work on-site. Many federal offices now face shortages of desks and poor internet access, while employees have expressed frustration over lengthy commutes.

  6. Hiring Freeze
    A freeze on hiring new federal employees was imposed immediately upon Trump’s inauguration, lasting until at least April 19. The freeze excluded military personnel and certain roles related to national security and public safety. As a result, seasonal hiring was halted, affecting positions like wildfire fighters and summer workers in national parks.

  7. Firing Heads of Key Labor Boards
    In early February, Trump fired three leaders of agencies responsible for protecting federal workers. These officials, nominated by Biden, had job protections that typically prevented them from being fired. Trump’s administration is currently defending these dismissals in court, arguing that, as president, he has the authority to remove them.

As the Trump administration continues to reshape the federal workforce, these changes are likely to have long-term impacts on government operations, employees, and union dynamics. The full extent of the layoffs and other reforms will unfold in the coming months.

END/WD/SMA/NYC/