Thousands of federal workers dismissed by Trump administration
At least six government agencies have begun implementing layoffs as DOGE ramp up its activities in a more aggressive phase.
TroibNews 
The Trump administration took decisive action on Thursday to lay off thousands of government employees across at least six agencies, marking a more aggressive phase in its efforts to reduce the federal workforce.
While officials did not disclose the exact number of layoff notices planned, it was acknowledged that the figure would surpass the 77,000 employees who have already accepted buyout offers. This voluntary resignation program, which was terminated following a judge’s ruling on Wednesday, accounted for only 3 percent of the workforce, falling short of the administration’s 10 percent target.
“This is not a mission to reach a quota, this is a mission to streamline the government,” a White House official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss the administration's rationale.
The Department of Energy is expected to lay off most or all of its approximately 2,000 probationary employees. In the past 48 hours, at least five other agencies—including the Education Department, the Office of Personnel Management, Small Business Administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the General Services Administration—have initiated layoffs as well.
Additionally, on Thursday, Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency began scrutinizing the Department of Housing and Urban Development, evaluating the agency’s budget and workforce for potential reductions, according to another individual familiar with Musk's involvement who requested anonymity.
The layoffs primarily target employees who were recently hired or promoted and are in a one- to two-year probationary status, which allows for terminations without cause, depending on the agency.
Officials in the White House and various agencies indicate that layoffs are likely to escalate in the upcoming days and weeks as more agencies finalize their workforce reduction plans.
The Small Business Administration has terminated approximately 720 employees—around 20 percent of its permanent workforce, according to a source familiar with the agency who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Department of Education also dismissed at least 60 probationary employees on Wednesday and has started issuing termination notices to staff in its civil rights, federal student aid, and communications offices, as well as its legal department.
Even the Office of Personnel Management, responsible for managing the federal workforce, was affected. An unspecified number of OPM employees on probation were terminated on Thursday, according to one agency employee and another from the union representing OPM workers. Supervisors were given no prior notice about this abrupt wave of dismissals, one source reported.
These firings mark a notable escalation from the earlier voluntary resignation stage, which administration officials had previously framed as a strategy to streamline the government without forced layoffs. The option to accept buyouts while remaining on the payroll through September ended on Wednesday evening.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday instructing agencies to collaborate with DOGE to prepare for “large-scale reductions in force,” limiting hiring to one employee for every four that depart.
The prospect of sudden layoffs has created immense stress among career officials throughout the government, as several employees shared anonymously. Many still in their probationary period operate under the assumption that they could be terminated at any moment, with rampant rumors circulating in the workforce, where officials are reportedly obsessively checking news sites and exchanging gossip in hopes of gaining some clarity about their job situations.
On Thursday, the health department was gripped by fears that newly sworn-in Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would soon demand resignations and implement widespread cuts in agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Prior to his confirmation, officials at NIH and other agencies had received informal warnings that substantial cuts might commence within a matter of days. However, as of Thursday evening, employees noted that no definitive actions had been confirmed by Kennedy, who had previously indicated intentions to dismiss hundreds of scientists from NIH.
As the firings increase, the administration is also implementing new surveillance measures for remaining employees, according to a source who wished to remain anonymous regarding internal agency affairs. Though the specifics of these monitoring measures are unclear, they have raised concerns among federal employees about their potential use to justify further layoffs.
At the SBA, new employee monitoring software has been implemented to track keystrokes and enable remote access to computer cameras and microphones, according to the same insider.
This software is comparable to surveillance systems introduced at the General Services Administration, where employees were informed that their work would be closely monitored, including when they logged in and out of devices and entered or exited workplaces. NPR reported that a “keylogger” software designed to track all employee typing is also being installed on their work computers.
The Pentagon has a national security exception allowing it to avoid reductions in its civilian workforce, though civilian employees were eligible for the buyout offer. Many have become increasingly anxious about potential layoffs following the election, leading to heightened activity on national security job boards in recent months, noted Anthony Niles, co-founder of JOBSwithDOD, a private defense job board that connects officials with opportunities outside of government.
“What we’re seeing is kind of a trend line of people with more sophisticated skills or advanced experiences taking the buyout,” Niles observed. His site, which previously attracted about 8 percent of the U.S. defense workforce, has seen user engagement jump to around 10 percent. Many users are actively applying for jobs and seeking connections, as civilian roles in the Pentagon feel increasingly unstable.
“It’s reflective in other markets like LinkedIn and other places where it’s just been people saying, ‘Where is it going to stop?’”
Adam Cancryn, Brian Dabbs, and Matt Daily contributed to this report.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
While officials did not disclose the exact number of layoff notices planned, it was acknowledged that the figure would surpass the 77,000 employees who have already accepted buyout offers. This voluntary resignation program, which was terminated following a judge’s ruling on Wednesday, accounted for only 3 percent of the workforce, falling short of the administration’s 10 percent target.
“This is not a mission to reach a quota, this is a mission to streamline the government,” a White House official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss the administration's rationale.
The Department of Energy is expected to lay off most or all of its approximately 2,000 probationary employees. In the past 48 hours, at least five other agencies—including the Education Department, the Office of Personnel Management, Small Business Administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the General Services Administration—have initiated layoffs as well.
Additionally, on Thursday, Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency began scrutinizing the Department of Housing and Urban Development, evaluating the agency’s budget and workforce for potential reductions, according to another individual familiar with Musk's involvement who requested anonymity.
The layoffs primarily target employees who were recently hired or promoted and are in a one- to two-year probationary status, which allows for terminations without cause, depending on the agency.
Officials in the White House and various agencies indicate that layoffs are likely to escalate in the upcoming days and weeks as more agencies finalize their workforce reduction plans.
The Small Business Administration has terminated approximately 720 employees—around 20 percent of its permanent workforce, according to a source familiar with the agency who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Department of Education also dismissed at least 60 probationary employees on Wednesday and has started issuing termination notices to staff in its civil rights, federal student aid, and communications offices, as well as its legal department.
Even the Office of Personnel Management, responsible for managing the federal workforce, was affected. An unspecified number of OPM employees on probation were terminated on Thursday, according to one agency employee and another from the union representing OPM workers. Supervisors were given no prior notice about this abrupt wave of dismissals, one source reported.
These firings mark a notable escalation from the earlier voluntary resignation stage, which administration officials had previously framed as a strategy to streamline the government without forced layoffs. The option to accept buyouts while remaining on the payroll through September ended on Wednesday evening.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday instructing agencies to collaborate with DOGE to prepare for “large-scale reductions in force,” limiting hiring to one employee for every four that depart.
The prospect of sudden layoffs has created immense stress among career officials throughout the government, as several employees shared anonymously. Many still in their probationary period operate under the assumption that they could be terminated at any moment, with rampant rumors circulating in the workforce, where officials are reportedly obsessively checking news sites and exchanging gossip in hopes of gaining some clarity about their job situations.
On Thursday, the health department was gripped by fears that newly sworn-in Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would soon demand resignations and implement widespread cuts in agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Prior to his confirmation, officials at NIH and other agencies had received informal warnings that substantial cuts might commence within a matter of days. However, as of Thursday evening, employees noted that no definitive actions had been confirmed by Kennedy, who had previously indicated intentions to dismiss hundreds of scientists from NIH.
As the firings increase, the administration is also implementing new surveillance measures for remaining employees, according to a source who wished to remain anonymous regarding internal agency affairs. Though the specifics of these monitoring measures are unclear, they have raised concerns among federal employees about their potential use to justify further layoffs.
At the SBA, new employee monitoring software has been implemented to track keystrokes and enable remote access to computer cameras and microphones, according to the same insider.
This software is comparable to surveillance systems introduced at the General Services Administration, where employees were informed that their work would be closely monitored, including when they logged in and out of devices and entered or exited workplaces. NPR reported that a “keylogger” software designed to track all employee typing is also being installed on their work computers.
The Pentagon has a national security exception allowing it to avoid reductions in its civilian workforce, though civilian employees were eligible for the buyout offer. Many have become increasingly anxious about potential layoffs following the election, leading to heightened activity on national security job boards in recent months, noted Anthony Niles, co-founder of JOBSwithDOD, a private defense job board that connects officials with opportunities outside of government.
“What we’re seeing is kind of a trend line of people with more sophisticated skills or advanced experiences taking the buyout,” Niles observed. His site, which previously attracted about 8 percent of the U.S. defense workforce, has seen user engagement jump to around 10 percent. Many users are actively applying for jobs and seeking connections, as civilian roles in the Pentagon feel increasingly unstable.
“It’s reflective in other markets like LinkedIn and other places where it’s just been people saying, ‘Where is it going to stop?’”
Adam Cancryn, Brian Dabbs, and Matt Daily contributed to this report.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
