President Donald Trump’s first 100 days as the 47th president, ending April 29, 2025, brought seismic changes to the federal workforce, driven by an aggressive agenda to shrink government. His administration, leveraging a Republican congressional majority, issued 142 executive orders, many targeting federal workers to enhance “efficiency” and accountability. The impact, mass layoffs (policy shifts, and uncertainty) has left civil servants reeling.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, spearheaded workforce reductions. Over 100,000 federal workers, including 75,000 via buyouts, faced termination, with agencies like HUD Community Planning cutting 83.3% of staff. A February 13 executive order targeted up to 220,000 probationary employees hired in the last two years, with layoffs executed via pre-recorded videos. These cuts, aimed at streamlining operations, sparked chaos, with Reuters reporting bottlenecks, rising costs, and longer public wait times due to staffing shortages.
On April 24, Trump’s executive order, “Strengthening Probationary Periods,” eased terminations by removing requirements to justify performance-based dismissals. The Merit Systems Protection Board lost jurisdiction over probationary appeals, leaving workers vulnerable. OPM’s guidance, citing a 1978 Senate Report, framed probationary periods as hiring extensions, allowing agencies to fire based on “operational needs” or misalignment with agency goals. This has fueled fears of politicization, as loyalty to Trump’s agenda appears prioritized.
The “Schedule Policy/Career” rule, proposed April 18, reclassified 50,000 policy-influencing roles as at-will, stripping protections against arbitrary dismissal. Combined with a hiring freeze and a one-in-four hiring cap, agencies struggle to fill critical roles, especially in air safety and public health. Concerns about safety risks have been raised after Trump dissolved a key air safety board and fired the TSA head.
A Pew survey shows 55% of Americans disapprove of government cuts, with 51% believing they’ll worsen operations. Federal workers face hostility, modest pay, and proposed FERS contribution hikes to 4.4%, adding financial strain. Veterans, a significant federal demographic, face job losses despite Trump’s past support for their employment.
While supporters praise Trump’s “promises kept” approach, critics, including Senator Bennet, call the cuts disastrous, citing disruptions to Social Security and labor programs. Legal challenges are mounting, with courts blocking some orders, but Trump’s team often delays compliance. The long-term impact hinges on congressional backing, but for now, federal workers navigate a workplace transformed by uncertainty and upheaval.
