Trump Administration Executes Largest Federal Workforce Layoffs in Decades

Over 16,000 probationary employees across multiple federal agencies have been terminated as part of a government downsizing effort led by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.

The Internal Revenue Service is terminating 6,700 employees, representing 7% of its workforce, during the peak tax-filing season, with compliance and auditing divisions heavily impacted.
The layoffs target probationary employees, who lack full civil service protections, across agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services, TSA, and the Forest Service, among others.
Critics, including some Republican lawmakers, warn that abrupt cuts to critical roles, such as nuclear security, aviation safety, and wildfire mitigation, may jeopardize public safety and essential services.
The Trump administration has also faced legal challenges over buyout programs and mass terminations, with some agencies attempting to rehire essential personnel post-layoffs.
Layoffs are part of broader efforts to reduce the federal workforce by tens of thousands, with the administration aiming to cut up to $1 trillion from the federal budget.