- The Trump administration is set to fire thousands of workers from the U.S. Forest Service as part of a purge of the federal workforce. The workers are probationary, meaning most have worked for the government for less than one year and do not have much job protection.
- The Office of Personnel Management has data showing about 200,000 federal employees are probationary.
- President Trump has tasked Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency with cutting federal spending and shrinking the workforce.
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The purge of federal workers by the Trump administration continues. Politico is reporting that the U.S. Forest Service will soon fire about 3,400 workers.
The job cuts target employees who are on their probationary period, making it easier for them to be released. They are among 200,000 federal employees who are probationary and have worked for the government for less than a year, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
What type of workers will lose their jobs at the U.S. Forest Service?
Public safety workers at the Forest Service, such as firefighters, appear to be safe. The report indicates that employees who work in the field, such as on-road and trail maintenance, will be affected. The cuts amount to about 10% of the Forest Service workforce.
When did the firings in various agencies begin?
Mass firings of federal government employees began this week after President Trump signed an executive order giving Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, more power to drastically reduce spending and shrink the federal payroll.
CNN and Politico also reported that probationary employees at the Departments of Education, Energy and Small Business Administration were terminated.
How is the offer being received?
The layoffs come as a federal judge ruled the administration’s Deferred Resignation Program, or so-called Fork in the Road program, can proceed. The White House said about 75,000 employees have already accepted the offer, which allows them to leave their jobs but get paid through the end of September.
Several unions have sued the Trump administration, seeking to block the firing of hundreds of thousands of federal employees who refuse to accept buyouts. Other lawsuits are likely to be filed.
When did this issue begin?
The workforce issue started when President Trump began his new administration, demanding that federal employees, who work from home, return to the office. He believes that many employees are not producing and are taking advantage of the remote setup.