Mass Layoffs of Probationary Federal Employees Spark Outrage
Thousands of probationary federal employees, including those at the CDC and DOE, face abrupt terminations under Trump administration's restructuring efforts.
The initial firings focused on – but weren't exclusive to – employees in their first year of their federal job, as they lack the ability longer-term employees have to appeal their terminations.
Which agencies have been hit by federal layoffs? What to know about NPS, NIH, IRS, more
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It does not hurt his and his party’s cause that the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority agrees with this premise in many ways.
Trump Publicly Admits He Thinks He Can Break Any Law He Wants
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This comes as the Trump administration intensified sweeping efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce, by ordering agencies to lay off nearly all probationary employees who had not yet gained civil service protection.
Ticker: IRS will lay off thousands of probationary workers in the middle of tax season
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Nonetheless, the impact would be severe, officials said.
Tribal Organizations Say Trump’s Mass Layoffs Have Life-or-Death Consequences
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The General Services Administration (GSA) is being rocked by layoffs as well.
'Disastrous': Trump’s 'haphazard' mass firings leave 'gaping holes in the government'
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The political fallout of past shutdowns may give Democrats pause as well.
Democrats in Congress see potential shutdown as leverage to counter Trump
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Trump responded by saying, "I know [Biden is] a friend of yours... He's a friend of CNN. That's why nobody watches CNN anymore – they have no credibility.”
Trump Humiliates CNN's Kaitlan Collins Twice in One Day
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The senator argued that the firings could hamper Alaska’s role in energy and mineral development, lessen preparation for wildfire management and hurt her state’s tourism economy if we don’t maintain our world-class national parks and forests.
Senate Republican warns that Trump’s downsizing of federal workforce will do ‘more harm than good’
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A flood of lawsuits against early Trump administration moves, which have led judges to temporarily block Trump’s spending freeze and force health agencies to reinstate pages removed from their websites, have only created opportunities to leave a lasting mark on how the executive branch operates, legal experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The Left’s Sue-Everything-That-Moves Strategy May End Up Delivering Trump Ultimate Victory
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Trump moves with dizzying speed on his to-do list. But there are warning signs in his first month
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The layoffs have shaken both federal employees and the unions that represent them, prompting widespread condemnation and setting the stage for future legal battles.
Trump’s Mass Layoffs Leave Federal Workers Baffled, Angry
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It's increasingly evident that Trump’s attempts to shrink the federal government resemble a strategy of throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks.
Opinion | Trump's purge is continuing in a new form
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Today, a Republican-controlled Congress is showing much more deference to the White House as Trump tests the limits of his authority.
After Watergate, Congress curbed the presidency. Now, Trump is testing those limits
NPR·1M·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.The layoffs are unlikely to yield significant deficit savings.
Anger, Chaos, Confusion as Federal Workers Face Mass Layoffs
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Cuts are also being made at other health agencies.
CDC's "disease detectives" halved as part of DOGE cuts at health agencies
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The administration was also hit with a number of new legal challenges, including one alleging the Department of Government Efficiency, the Trump-created office headed by billionaire Elon Musk, is unconstitutional.
A week of legal setbacks — and one big win — for Trump's agenda
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The layoffs come after three individuals representing the Department of Government Efficiency visited the DOE last week.
Trump administration lays off as many as 2,000 Energy Department employees
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The firings will damage farmers the most.
Fired federal workers decry 'arbitrary,' 'haphazard' terminations
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The Trump administration will reportedly fire thousands of federal employees working in public health and science agencies on Friday as part of its effort to shrink the size of government.
Trump administration targets more than 5,000 NIH, CDC bureaucrats to be laid off
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Though McConnell has supported other cabinet nominees this term, Trump criticized his recent votes against Kennedy, Gabbard, and Hegseth.
McConnell Emerges as Trump’s Biggest Republican Detractor in the Senate
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The layoffs could potentially affect hundreds of thousands of workers, and more cuts are expected soon, according to the report.
Report: ‘Huge Number’ of Federal Probationary Workers Laid Off
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The cuts, reported by multiple publications, come a day after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed by the Senate and sworn into office.
CDC workforce reportedly slashed 10% as RFK Jr. takes office
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Historically CDC has been seen as a global leader on disease control and a reliable source of health information, boasting some of the top experts in the world.
CDC To Lose One-tenth Of Workforce Under Trump Administration Job Cuts
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The fact is that Trump is an unpopular president who eked out a razor-thin plurality of the popular vote and whose party holds the slimmest of majorities in the House.
The Opposition Is Already Growing
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Ultimately, a country where the law is defined by the personal imperatives of a given leader, who himself is above and outside of the rule of law, while simultaneously able to wield the law against their “enemies” and in service to his interests (and corrupt power more broadly), is a form of despotism.
Trump's shock and awe campaign rocks the courts
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Summary
The Trump administration's recent mass firings of probationary federal employees have caused significant concern among affected workers and the agencies they serve. Reports indicate that over 200,000 employees may lose their jobs, including approximately 1,300 from the CDC and nearly 2,000 from the DOE. Those impacted describe the terminations as arbitrary and rushed, leaving many feeling uncertain about their futures. Critics argue that these cuts will severely hamper critical public services, particularly in health and environmental sectors, where recently terminated workers played essential roles. The layoffs have faced backlash from various unions, leading to legal challenges against the administration's methods.
Perspectives
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