Bend, OR – The Trump administration has intensified its campaign to reduce the size of the federal workforce by firing thousands of probationary federal employees. The latest round of terminations is seen as part of a broader strategy to dismantle government agencies and shrink the 2.4 million-person federal workforce.
Last Friday, the administration announced the dismissal of a substantial number of employees, targeting roughly 220,000 probationary workers. These employees, who are either newly hired or those who started a new role within the federal government, are currently in a probationary period lasting from one to two years. With relatively few federal workers opting to accept a previous resignation offer spearheaded by Trump advisor Elon Musk, the mass firings represent a strategic move to trim the workforce, particularly within agencies that employ large numbers of personnel across the United States.
The state of Oregon, home to thousands of federal employees, has been among the areas most affected by the terminations. The Oregon Federal Executive Board estimates that more than 40,000 federal workers are employed across over 130 agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. According to federal officials, approximately 10% of these workers received termination notices last week, with some employees reporting that they were given little time to prepare before being dismissed.
One anonymous federal employee expressed frustration over the abrupt layoffs, saying, “People are sad. They’re feeling unappreciated for their contributions and a little bit adrift.” Employees across various agencies, including the CDC and the U.S. Forest Service, are grappling with the impact of the firings.
While the White House has not provided specific figures on the number of workers dismissed or the regions affected, the decision to target probationary employees is being met with fierce backlash from labor unions. The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), which represents 110,000 federal workers, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the firings are politically motivated rather than based on job performance. Similarly, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents 800,000 workers, has condemned the move as an attack on dedicated public servants.
AFGE President Everett Kelley blasted the administration, claiming, “These firings are not about poor performance — there is no evidence these employees were anything but dedicated public servants. They are about power. They are about gutting the federal government, silencing workers, and forcing agencies into submission to a radical agenda that prioritizes cronyism over competence.”
Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, have also expressed strong opposition to the firings. Ossoff criticized the removal of over 1,000 CDC workers, stating that the action “devastates careers and livelihoods for the world’s most talented doctors and scientists.” The Senator went on to accuse the Trump administration of endangering public health in an effort to advance a political agenda.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which employs a significant portion of the federal workforce, also carried out large-scale terminations. VA Secretary Doug Collins justified the firings as a cost-saving measure, claiming that the layoffs would save the agency $98 million. However, critics argue that such cuts could have serious implications for veterans’ services.
In a statement, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen condemned the administration’s actions as part of a larger effort to weaken federal services for the public. “Their real ultimate goal is to shut down very important services to the American people and use the savings from denying those services to working Americans to provide tax cuts to the very wealthy,” he said.
Federal agencies including the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior have been particularly affected, with the Forest Service set to fire approximately 3,400 employees. The Interior Department is reportedly planning to dismiss up to 2,300 probationary workers across its regional offices. Critics, such as Aaron Weiss from the Center for Western Priorities, warned that the terminations could have severe consequences for public lands and environmental protection efforts. “Firing the next generation of America’s park rangers, scientists, and land managers is a recipe for literal disaster,” Weiss said.
As the Trump administration continues its mass firings, it faces mounting opposition from unions, lawmakers, and public servants who argue that the decisions are politically motivated and will have lasting negative effects on critical government services. The controversy surrounding these layoffs raises questions about the future of the federal workforce and the services it provides to the American people.
