Feds fear impending layoffs scheduled for Thursday.
President Donald Trump has initiated significant reductions to the federal workforce, calling for “large-scale” cuts.
TroibNews 
Agencies throughout the federal government are under pressure to submit plans for significant reductions in workforce and restructuring by Thursday.
Last month, President Donald Trump mandated that agencies develop strategies for “large-scale reductions in force,” setting a March 13 deadline for the submission of “initial agency cuts and reductions,” with a follow-up deadline in April.
Employees in energy and environmental agencies, who have already seen colleagues let go early in Trump’s presidency, are anxiously anticipating the administration's next moves.
Concerns about serious cuts are mounting.
“People are completely terrified,” stated one employee from the Interior Department, who requested anonymity due to fears of repercussions. The employee noted that “there are rumors circulating” regarding which offices and programs may be targeted for cuts, though staff have yet to receive detailed guidance from their superiors.
“We’re also kind of puzzled,” the employee added, pointing out the paradox of anticipated downsizing occurring while “this administration is putting a lot of work on our plates,” especially in terms of rolling back regulations established during the Biden administration.
The Interior Department has already experienced job losses due to the administration’s “Fork in the Road” resignation offer and the firing of probationary staff, according to the employee, who emphasized that the Trump administration “gonna need staff" to pursue its agenda.
The Interior Department has not responded to inquiries about its downsizing plans, and neither the White House nor the Office of Personnel Management has commented on whether the plans will be made public or provided details regarding the timing or extent of layoffs across the government.
This week, the Education Department announced intentions to reduce its workforce by about half.
‘People are so scared’ In light of Trump’s early signals and comments, employees at the EPA are preparing for drastic workforce reductions.
Trump recently suggested that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin was planning to cut 65 percent of the agency's staff, a prospect the president seemed to endorse. However, the White House later clarified that Zeldin intended to address the agency’s spending rather than its workforce specifically.
Zeldin reiterated his commitment to “massively reduce” spending and stated that the EPA will, “where necessary, reduce staff.”
Additionally, the DOGE operation led by Elon Musk announced cancellations on leases for some EPA offices nationwide. Some regional EPA offices were also included on a list of properties the Trump administration identified for “disposal,” though that list was later removed.
“Everyone is very conscious of the deadline for EPA to submit a reorganization and [reduction in force] plan,” said Nicole Cantello, president of a union local representing EPA regional workers.
“EPA workers continue to be concerned that EPA will close many offices around the country,” she added, stressing that “our scientists and engineers know that all EPA office buildings are essential to protecting human health and the environment.”
Marie Owens Powell, president of a union representing EPA employees nationwide, expressed the fear among agency staff regarding the impending plans from the Trump administration.
“People are so scared,” she said. Employees are uncertain if they will fall prey to a RIF.
Powell, who recently retired after 33 years with the EPA, noted that while the agency had once come close to implementing a RIF, it never actually did so in her career. “We came close. We prepared for one, but we never fully implemented one,” she recounted.
Workers are understandably anxious about losing their jobs and livelihoods, compounded by a lack of information. “They’re frantic at this point for lack of information,” she remarked.
The EPA did not respond to requests for comments regarding its layoff and reorganization plans due this week.
The Trump administration's building disposal strategy includes the Energy Department’s Washington headquarters and its Germantown, Maryland offices. These were among over 400 buildings listed online by the General Services Administration before the list was retracted, leaving employees uncertain about their job security.
Employees at the National Science Foundation are similarly apprehensive as layoffs loom, but “there’s nothing we can do about it,” one NSF worker—who also requested anonymity—shared. Despite the anxieties, staff members have been celebrating the return of probationary employees who were previously terminated but reinstated, even if their return might only be temporary.
An NSF spokesperson chose not to comment for this article.
More eliminations are expected as the “Phase 1” plans for agency cuts are merely an initial phase in the Trump administration’s broad downsizing initiative.
The plans due Thursday must identify which agency offices provide “direct service to citizens,” outline necessary statutory components, and determine whether “the agency or any of its subcomponents should be eliminated or consolidated,” as stated in the guidance provided to agency leaders.
Agency heads were additionally instructed to outline the mechanisms they plan to use to “achieve efficiencies,” which include anticipated staff reductions in the years to come.
In the follow-up “Phase 2” plans, due by April 14, agency heads must elaborate on their operational overhaul strategies. This will encompass proposals for relocating agency offices from Washington to other regions of the country, objectives for “subsequent large-scale RIFs,” and plans to renegotiate provisions of collective bargaining agreements seen as “inhibiting government efficiency and cost-savings.”
Agencies are expected to put these second-phase plans into action by September 30.
Musk has previously expressed a desire to eliminate many federal agencies, questioning, “Do we really need whatever it is, 428, federal agencies?” He suggested, “I think we should be able to get away with 99 agencies.”
Anna Muller for TROIB News
Last month, President Donald Trump mandated that agencies develop strategies for “large-scale reductions in force,” setting a March 13 deadline for the submission of “initial agency cuts and reductions,” with a follow-up deadline in April.
Employees in energy and environmental agencies, who have already seen colleagues let go early in Trump’s presidency, are anxiously anticipating the administration's next moves.
Concerns about serious cuts are mounting.
“People are completely terrified,” stated one employee from the Interior Department, who requested anonymity due to fears of repercussions. The employee noted that “there are rumors circulating” regarding which offices and programs may be targeted for cuts, though staff have yet to receive detailed guidance from their superiors.
“We’re also kind of puzzled,” the employee added, pointing out the paradox of anticipated downsizing occurring while “this administration is putting a lot of work on our plates,” especially in terms of rolling back regulations established during the Biden administration.
The Interior Department has already experienced job losses due to the administration’s “Fork in the Road” resignation offer and the firing of probationary staff, according to the employee, who emphasized that the Trump administration “gonna need staff" to pursue its agenda.
The Interior Department has not responded to inquiries about its downsizing plans, and neither the White House nor the Office of Personnel Management has commented on whether the plans will be made public or provided details regarding the timing or extent of layoffs across the government.
This week, the Education Department announced intentions to reduce its workforce by about half.
‘People are so scared’ In light of Trump’s early signals and comments, employees at the EPA are preparing for drastic workforce reductions.
Trump recently suggested that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin was planning to cut 65 percent of the agency's staff, a prospect the president seemed to endorse. However, the White House later clarified that Zeldin intended to address the agency’s spending rather than its workforce specifically.
Zeldin reiterated his commitment to “massively reduce” spending and stated that the EPA will, “where necessary, reduce staff.”
Additionally, the DOGE operation led by Elon Musk announced cancellations on leases for some EPA offices nationwide. Some regional EPA offices were also included on a list of properties the Trump administration identified for “disposal,” though that list was later removed.
“Everyone is very conscious of the deadline for EPA to submit a reorganization and [reduction in force] plan,” said Nicole Cantello, president of a union local representing EPA regional workers.
“EPA workers continue to be concerned that EPA will close many offices around the country,” she added, stressing that “our scientists and engineers know that all EPA office buildings are essential to protecting human health and the environment.”
Marie Owens Powell, president of a union representing EPA employees nationwide, expressed the fear among agency staff regarding the impending plans from the Trump administration.
“People are so scared,” she said. Employees are uncertain if they will fall prey to a RIF.
Powell, who recently retired after 33 years with the EPA, noted that while the agency had once come close to implementing a RIF, it never actually did so in her career. “We came close. We prepared for one, but we never fully implemented one,” she recounted.
Workers are understandably anxious about losing their jobs and livelihoods, compounded by a lack of information. “They’re frantic at this point for lack of information,” she remarked.
The EPA did not respond to requests for comments regarding its layoff and reorganization plans due this week.
The Trump administration's building disposal strategy includes the Energy Department’s Washington headquarters and its Germantown, Maryland offices. These were among over 400 buildings listed online by the General Services Administration before the list was retracted, leaving employees uncertain about their job security.
Employees at the National Science Foundation are similarly apprehensive as layoffs loom, but “there’s nothing we can do about it,” one NSF worker—who also requested anonymity—shared. Despite the anxieties, staff members have been celebrating the return of probationary employees who were previously terminated but reinstated, even if their return might only be temporary.
An NSF spokesperson chose not to comment for this article.
More eliminations are expected as the “Phase 1” plans for agency cuts are merely an initial phase in the Trump administration’s broad downsizing initiative.
The plans due Thursday must identify which agency offices provide “direct service to citizens,” outline necessary statutory components, and determine whether “the agency or any of its subcomponents should be eliminated or consolidated,” as stated in the guidance provided to agency leaders.
Agency heads were additionally instructed to outline the mechanisms they plan to use to “achieve efficiencies,” which include anticipated staff reductions in the years to come.
In the follow-up “Phase 2” plans, due by April 14, agency heads must elaborate on their operational overhaul strategies. This will encompass proposals for relocating agency offices from Washington to other regions of the country, objectives for “subsequent large-scale RIFs,” and plans to renegotiate provisions of collective bargaining agreements seen as “inhibiting government efficiency and cost-savings.”
Agencies are expected to put these second-phase plans into action by September 30.
Musk has previously expressed a desire to eliminate many federal agencies, questioning, “Do we really need whatever it is, 428, federal agencies?” He suggested, “I think we should be able to get away with 99 agencies.”
Anna Muller for TROIB News
