The Trump Administration has reportedly approved layoffs of probationary federal employees. The major decision from the administration has sparked nationwide debates over the legality and the possible long-term impact on the agencies. The layoffs apparently aim to reduce the workforce as well as the government spending. If you are someone who wants to know more about probationary federal employees getting fired, this article is for you. It brings all the details we know so far about the probationary federal employees’ layoffs. This includes the reasons, possible impact, as well as the information about the highly affected departments.
Why Has The Trump Administration Fired Probationary Federal Employees?
The administration under the newly elected US President Donald Trump has executed major layoffs of probationary federal employees. This decision mainly aims to reduce the workforce as well as government spending. The employees hired on probationary period are easy to fire. The administration is apparently leveraging this fact to execute quick layoffs in the federal agencies.
According to the official statement from the White House, the layoffs align with the administration’s goal of reducing bureaucracy and inefficiencies in federal agencies. The administration, in its official statement, also claimed reducing unnecessary positions would help save taxpayer’s dollars. The government can invest the money saved in more necessary projects hence increasing productivity as well.
However, in reality, the government is reportedly tackling a national debt of $36 million. Hence, it aims to reduce its federal payroll expenses by cutting jobs in the agencies that are not essential. Elon Musk, the newly appointed leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, is supporting this strategy.
What Does These Layoffs Mean For The Probationary Federal Employees?
The employees who are still working within the probationary period are currently at high risk of job termination. The layoffs are going to affect many probationary federal employees who will probably lose their dream jobs. The new hires, as well as the lower-level, may lose their jobs without any civil service protections. The critics, as well as the legal experts, are currently arguing that these layoffs may become a precedent for mass layoffs in the near future.
What Are The Departments Highly Affected by the Probationary Federal Employee Layoffs?
Several agencies that the Department of Government Efficiency thinks are non-essential have been highly affected by the layoffs. The Department of Veteran Affairs had over 2,000 layoffs in administrative roles. The Small Business Administration, commonly abbreviated as SBA, has also significantly reduced its workforce by 18%. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, commonly known as CFPB, also laid off around 900 employees. General Services Administration, commonly abbreviated as GSA, also lost around 25% of its workforce.
Legal Concerns Being Raised Regarding The Layoffs
The federal employees who are affected by the layoffs are going to file lawsuits challenging it. The critics are also raising various legal concerns regarding the layoffs. According to them, the layoffs are violating civil service protections which protect federal employees from politically motivated firings. They also believe the layoffs are undermining the stability of federal jobs and discouraging long-term careers in government. The layoffs may also disrupt critical government functioning. A total of 14 states have also formed a coalition to challenge the executive order. These states believe the order was implemented without any proper congressional oversight.
How Will The Layoffs Socially And Economically Impact Us?
The mass layoffs of probationary federal employees will definitely impact the proper functioning of several essential public services. The Veterans may now have to wait even longer for healthcare facilities because of staff shortages. The owners who run small businesses and have applied for loans may now have to wait longer for approvals. Environmental as well as public health programs will also have to face difficulties.
The layoffs may result in an increase in competition in the private job market. This is because most employees who are now fired will search for private jobs. Hence, the wage rate may drop because of an increase in the labor supply. The unemployment rates will also increase because of these layoffs. The communities who depend on government jobs will also have to face economic uncertainty.
What’s The Road After The Probationary Federal Employees Layoffs?
The legal battles and suits may end up modifying or delaying the impact of these layoffs. The federal employees who actually believe their job termination was unfair may not have many appeal options. However, the government may reconsider some of the terminations based on specific policies of the agencies.
