Trump and Musk's Layoff Blitz Forces 10,000 U.S. Government Workers to Pack Their Bags

Over 10,000 employees across multiple U.S. government agencies lose their jobs as part of a sweeping downsizing initiative spearheaded by Trump and Musk / Reuters

Since Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, thousands of U.S. government workers have found themselves unexpectedly out of a job, the result of aggressive cost-cutting measures pushed by Trump and Elon Musk’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). On February 14, reports from major outlets like Reuters and USA Today revealed that large-scale layoffs had affected various government agencies, with nearly 10,000 employees being dismissed, many of them within their first year of employment.

This latest round of job cuts, which targeted employees who had been with the government for less than a year, was a direct result of an executive order signed by President Trump on February 11. The order called for swift action in reducing the federal workforce, urging agencies to begin downsizing immediately. Musk, who attended the signing ceremony, is tasked with leading the DOGE, an office dedicated to streamlining government operations and improving efficiency.

Agencies hit hardest by the layoffs included the Department of the Interior, which saw approximately 2,300 job cuts, the Department of Energy, which lost between 1,200 and 2,000 employees, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, which dismissed over 1,000 individuals. The Department of Education also laid off over 60 workers. The Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were not spared, losing 3,400 and 1,300 employees, respectively. When added together, these layoffs bring the total to close to 10,000 workers, and reports suggest that the IRS is preparing to send thousands of additional workers home as early as next week.

A significant portion of those let go were probationary employees, most of whom had been working with the government for less than a year. This move was strategic, as it allowed the government to avoid paying severance, a detail pointed out by Reuters. Trump’s administration had previously set a target to reduce the federal workforce by 2-5%, meaning up to 11,500 jobs could eventually be cut from the 2.3 million federal employees.

The massive layoffs were carried out rapidly, with some workers receiving notifications through pre-recorded videos and being told to pack up within 30 minutes. One of those affected, Nick Gioia, who had been working at the Economic Research Service under the Department of Agriculture since December, expressed feeling betrayed by his government. "It feels like a game, and I don't believe the federal employees are being treated fairly," Gioia told Reuters. He also criticized Musk, suggesting that he might not fully understand the impact of his actions on others' lives.

Initially, Trump had planned to reduce the workforce through voluntary retirements. However, with only 77,000 employees applying for early retirement, this strategy fell short, prompting further cuts. The administration is now focusing on more aggressive layoffs to meet its target.

While the long-term effects of these layoffs remain unclear, many federal workers are left uncertain about their future. For those who remain employed, the rapidly changing landscape of government employment under Trump's administration signals an uncertain era ahead. The focus on efficiency and downsizing will undoubtedly reshape the landscape of U.S. federal agencies, affecting the lives of many workers across the country.