The newly-formed US government, led by President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, laid off over 9,500 employees across various federal agencies on Thursday in a sweeping effort to restructure America’s bureaucracy.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the dismissal of over 1,000 employees still in their probationary period. Meanwhile, the US Forest Service is set to cut more than 3,000 positions.
Union sources and employees familiar with the situation told Reuters that termination emails had been sent in the past 48 hours to workers in several federal agencies, with most of those affected being recently hired employees still on probation.
Several departments, including Interior, Energy, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and Health and Human Services, focused layoffs on staff with minimal job protection.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an independent watchdog, was practically dismantled, while fixed-term contract workers also faced significant cuts.
Trump defended the initiative, calling it a necessary measure to combat inefficiency and reduce wasteful spending in the federal government.
With a $36 trillion national debt and a $1.8 trillion deficit recorded last year, there is growing bipartisan support for reforming federal operations.
Critics, however, expressed alarm over Musk’s aggressive approach and the unprecedented level of power he has acquired during Trump’s presidency.
According to government data, around 280,000 civilian government employees were hired within the last two years, with many still in their probationary period, making them more vulnerable to termination.
In a statement, the Department of Veterans Affairs said the layoffs would save the agency over $98 million annually, which would be redirected to healthcare, benefits, and services for veterans.
Amid the layoffs, 14 states filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, challenging Musk’s appointment by Trump. The lawsuit claims that Musk’s role is illegal and grants him “unchecked authority” without congressional oversight.
Typically, civil service employees can only be terminated for poor performance or misconduct and are entitled to due process and appeal rights. However, those still in their probationary period have limited protections, leaving them more exposed to immediate dismissal.
