Tag Archives: probationaryemployees

Source: White House plans to expand mass layoffs to IRS and Veterans Affairs – The Guardian US

Summary:

Overview of Planned Layoffs

• The Trump administration, in collaboration with Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (Doge), is planning significant layoffs at the IRS and Veterans Affairs (VA).

• These actions are part of a broader strategy to reduce the size of federal agencies.

IRS Workforce Reduction

• The IRS plans to cut up to 50% of its 90,000 employees through layoffs, attrition, and buyouts.

• Women and people of color make up a significant portion of the IRS workforce, at 65% and 56% respectively.

• Former IRS Commissioner John Koskinen warns that such reductions could render the agency “dysfunctional.”

• Approximately 7,000 probationary employees were already laid off in February.

• There are plans to reassign IRS employees to the Department of Homeland Security to support immigration enforcement.

Veterans Affairs (VA) Layoffs

• The VA intends to lay off up to 83,000 employees by the end of 2025, aiming to revert to 2019 staffing levels.

• The cuts will affect all parts of the department, according to a leaked internal memo.

• More than 25% of VA employees are veterans themselves.

• The VA workforce had increased under the Biden administration due to the 2022 Pact Act, which expanded healthcare for veterans exposed to toxic substances.

• Representative Mark Takano criticized the planned layoffs as a betrayal of veterans.

Broader Implications

• The layoffs are part of a larger effort by the Trump/Musk administration to reduce federal agencies that provide essential services.

• USAid has already been significantly downsized, impacting global aid efforts.

• The legality of these mass firings and buyouts is questionable, with some actions facing legal challenges.

• The federal workforce, excluding military and postal workers, consists of approximately 2.4 million people, with only 20% based in Washington DC and nearby states.

Source: Trump administration revises directive to fire probationary employees – The Guardian US

Summary:

Reversal of Directive on Probationary Employee Firings

• The Trump administration is reconsidering its directive to terminate probationary federal employees.

• This reconsideration follows a temporary block by a federal judge in California against mass firings, including those of probationary employees with less than a year of experience.

• Thousands of probationary employees had already been dismissed prior to the ruling.

Revised Guidance from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

• A revised memorandum from the OPM clarifies that agencies are not directed to take specific performance-based actions against probationary employees.

• Agencies retain the ultimate authority and responsibility for personnel actions.

• The impact of this revised guidance on previously terminated probationary workers remains unclear.

Efforts to Reduce Federal Workforce

• The Trump administration has been actively working to reduce the federal workforce, the largest employer in the country.

• This initiative has resulted in the termination of thousands of workers, including nearly all probationary employees under a previous directive.

• Specific examples include the Department of Veterans Affairs laying off over 1,000 probationary workers and the US Forest Service planning to dismiss more than 3,000 employees.

Widespread Layoffs and Their Implications

• Approximately 5,000 employees have been terminated from agencies managing national parks, forests, and other federal public lands.

• In total, at least 20,000 government workers have been fired in the first month of the Trump administration.

• These layoffs are largely influenced by directives from Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (Doge), aimed at significantly reducing the workforce at federal agencies.

Concerns and Potential Impacts

• A federal employee from the National Archives expressed concerns about the broader negative impacts of these workforce reductions.

• The employee warned of a “domino effect” that could disrupt essential services such as tax return processing, veteran healthcare, and farm subsidies.

• The employee emphasized that cutting federal employees will not address issues like inflation or reduce consumer costs.

Source: Federal layoffs hit the deep-red, rural US west: ‘Our public lands are under threat’ – The Guardian US

Summary:

Overview of Layoffs and Impact on Mountain West Communities

• Context and Concerns

– Republican representative McKay Erickson from Wyoming expresses concern over layoffs affecting federal workers in his district, which includes Bridger-Teton National Forest and Grand Teton National Park.
– Erickson, a small-government conservative, acknowledges the need for federal cuts but criticizes the indiscriminate nature of current layoffs, fearing loss of services and negative impacts on local businesses.

• Political and Economic Landscape

– Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, states with significant federal land, have consistently supported Donald Trump in elections. These states rely heavily on outdoor recreation industries tied to public lands.
– Despite concerns, Erickson remains supportive of Trump, who received substantial electoral support in his district.

• Local Business and Community Impact

– Layoffs under the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (Doge) are causing anxiety among local business owners, politicians, and federal employees in the Mountain West.
– The Guardian reports that US senators from these states have not responded to requests for comment on the issue.

• Case Studies of Affected Areas

– Salmon, Idaho: Dustin Aherin, president of Middle Fork Outfitters Association, highlights the critical role of forestry service employees in supporting local businesses. Recent layoffs have left the area without on-the-ground management.
– Stanley, Idaho: A former Sawtooth National Forest employee, Hannah, reports significant staff cuts, impacting public-facing jobs and local businesses. She expresses concern over losing future public land stewards.
– Livingston, Montana: Dale Sexton, owner of a fly shop, is advocating for economic arguments to address the layoffs’ impact. City commissioner Karrie Kahle warns of potential community disruptions due to the loss of federal workers.

• Personal Accounts and Broader Implications

– Andrea Shiverdecker, an archaeologist in Montana, shares her personal experience of being laid off, emphasizing the importance of public land stewardship and the challenges posed by reduced manpower.
– Shiverdecker’s case highlights the disorienting nature of the layoff process and the broader implications for public lands and community well-being.