Nearly 25,000 Recent Workers Laid Off During Trump Administration, Report Agencies
Following reinstatement orders, eighteen agencies detailed the number of terminated employees in sworn declarations submitted in federal court.
According to court filings, federal agencies have terminated nearly 25,000 newer employees. This marks the first instance in which many agencies have released official termination figures.
Eighteen agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, began terminating probationary employees shortly after President Donald Trump assumed office, upon directive from the Office of Personnel Management to dismiss those who were not essential to agency missions. Many agencies did not reveal the specific termination counts.
U.S. District Judge James Bredar emphasized that reinstatements must be completed by March 17 and instructed officials to submit a status report detailing their compliance with his order.
The declarations revealed that a total of 24,805 workers were terminated across the agencies. Most of these layoffs occurred in February, with some also happening in January and March.
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The U.S. Department of Treasury recorded the highest number of terminations at 7,605, followed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with 5,714 layoffs.
- Department of the Treasury: 7,605
- Department of Agriculture: 5,714
- Department of Health and Human Services: 3,248
- Department of Veterans Affairs: 1,900
- Department of the Interior: 1,712
- Department of Commerce: 791
- Department of Transportation: 788
- Department of Energy: 555
- Environmental Protection Agency: 419
- General Services Administration: 366
- Department of Homeland Security: 313
- Department of Housing and Urban Development: 312
- Small Business Administration: 304
- U.S. Agency for International Development: 270
- Department of Labor: 170
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: 156
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: 117
- Department of Education: 65
Officials informed the court that they received a memorandum from the Office of Personnel Management on January 20 that indicated that “agencies should identify all employees on probationary periods” and “should promptly determine whether those employees should be retained at the agency.”
In their declarations, officials expressed that reinstating terminated employees could lead to challenges and disruptions, as the individuals would need to undergo training, complete paperwork, and re-enroll in payroll and benefits programs.
They also indicated that an appeals court might potentially reverse the reinstatements before they are fully executed.
The officials informed the judge that agencies had commenced the mandated reinstatements. Some agencies have reinstated all terminated probationary employees, while others faced issues such as system malfunctions that prevented them from meeting the reinstatement deadline.
“Such an action is not permitted under the preliminary injunction, as it does not restore the services intended by the injunction,” Alsup remarked.
He mandated that government officials inform him of which rehired probationary employees were placed on administrative leave, with a deadline set for noon on March 18.
