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SBA and Energy Department Employees Experience Chaotic Termination and Reinstatement Process

A recent series of unsettling events has unfolded for employees at the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Energy, raising concerns about the stability of federal job security. An SBA staff member, while on medical leave, was blindsided by a termination notice from her supervisor. This unwelcome news arrived after she had recently been recognized for her contributions to the agency.

“I really loved my job,” she stated. “Each day, I left with a sense of fulfillment from my efforts to support small businesses and my community.” However, her termination, purportedly due to poor performance during her probationary period, came as a shock not only to her but also to her manager.

Just a week later, an unexpected email from SBA acting Director Everett Woodel offered a glimmer of hope. It announced her reinstatement and indicated that she would be placed on retroactive administrative leave from the time of her initial termination. She was instructed to report back to work shortly thereafter.

The termination and reinstatement debacle at SBA reflected a broader, distressing trend. Earlier in the month, the agency rescinded all termination notices only to reissue them to many employees shortly after. The employee in question was among those who received a confusing series of emails regarding her job status, indicating a persistent state of uncertainty and mismanagement within the agency.

Similarly, an employee from the Energy Department, also in her probationary period, experienced a rapid cycle of firing and un-firing. After receiving a termination notice on February 14, she was heartbroken, particularly because her team members were also affected. Just hours later, however, a follow-up email reassured her that her position was secure, citing updated guidance that erroneously included her on the termination list.

This employee’s experience mirrored another colleague’s ordeal, although she did not work for the Bonneville Power Administration or the National Nuclear Security Administration, both of which were involved in the broader rollback of firings within the Energy Department.

The firings stem from a recent initiative by the Trump administration, targeting thousands of federal workers in their probationary periods. This group typically includes newer hires, who enjoy less robust job protections and are often more vulnerable to dismissal. Some long-standing employees, who had recently been promoted to new roles, were also included, although the rationale for their swift firings remains unclear.

Moreover, various federal agencies have retracted termination notices with varying degrees of transparency. For instance, the Agriculture Department, while managing an avian flu outbreak, selectively exempted critical positions, such as veterinarians and animal health technicians, before sending termination notices to some of these employees. A representative from the department acknowledged the situation and promised expediency in rectifying these notifications.

In another case, the Indian Health Service had planned to let go of 950 employees, but at the last moment, the Health and Human Services Department intervened, canceling those terminations. Although employees are relieved to have their positions reinstated, they are left grappling with uncertainty regarding their job security.

“Honestly, I’m just waiting to be re-fired,” remarked the Energy Department employee, echoing the sentiments of many who feel precariously caught in this turbulent environment. The SBA employee who has faced termination and reinstatement in quick succession expressed her gratitude for returning to the job she loves, but the specter of instability looms large. She reflected, “It’s bittersweet to return to work, knowing that my life could be turned upside down without notice.”

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