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Federal Agencies Implement Dismissals Amid Administration Guidance
Recent developments within two federal agencies have revealed significant workforce changes, as some staff members have received termination notices. This comes despite instructions from the Trump administration urging agency heads not to engage in extensive firings.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has recently informed all employees in their probationary employment period of their termination. This action aligns with the administration’s ongoing initiative to dismantle the bureau. Russ Vought, the acting director of CFPB and head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), previously mandated staff to halt their work as part of a broader strategy led by members of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
On President Trump’s inaugural day in office, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) directed agencies to compile lists of probationary employees, typically those who joined within the past year. These lists have been submitted to OPM, with some agencies subsequently notifying their staff of their status and the increased risk of dismissal during the probationary period. Probationary employees do not enjoy the same job protections as other federal workers, making them more susceptible to being let go.
In certain instances, agencies have requested justification for retaining employees in probationary status, placing additional pressure on supervisors who must validate these recent hires.
However, OPM later organized a call with general counsels from various federal agencies, cautioning them against widespread dismissals of probationary employees. Instead, OPM recommended that terminations be limited to those identified as underperformers. This update was initially reported by CBS News.
An OPM spokesperson stated, “The Trump Administration is encouraging agencies to use the probationary period as it was intended: as a continuation of the job application process, not an entitlement for permanent employment.”
Yet, alongside CFPB’s actions, other agencies such as the Small Business Administration (SBA) have also been issuing termination notices to probationary employees. Last week, the SBA mistakenly communicated mass dismissals, only to retract them shortly after. Following this confusion, employees received new termination notices, confirming their firings, creating concern over the agency’s procedural integrity.
One SBA employee, facing termination with two months remaining in their probationary period, described the notice received as unofficial and suspicious. “It was sketchy,” the employee remarked, noting the lack of agency letterhead and an unsigned notice.
Despite assurances from upper management advocating for the employee’s retention based on exemplary performance reviews, they were met with a follow-up email clarifying that the previous notices were erroneous. However, subsequent termination notices were received, this time bearing signatures and labeling the employee as “not a fit” for the agency, despite their positive evaluations.
The affected employee has sought assistance from their union—the American Federation of Government Employees—and consulted a lawyer, although chances of successfully contesting the termination appear slim.
As of March, the SBA had roughly 1,000 probationary employees, while the number stood at 60 for the CFPB.
Other federal agencies are still assessing the implications of OPM’s directives. For instance, a supervisor at the Energy Department highlighted that their division previously recommended retaining 80% of probationary staff, but revised feedback indicated that this was insufficient. The supervisor noted that the impact of OPM’s latest guidance on final decisions remains uncertain.
This targeting of probationary employees is merely one component of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to reduce the federal workforce. Additional measures include promoting voluntary departures through programs encouraging deferred resignations and early retirements, as well as planning for potential agency shutdowns. Trump recently signed an executive order stipulating that once the hiring freeze is lifted, agencies should hire one new employee for every four who depart while preparing for substantial layoffs.
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