WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a sweeping move to reshape the U.S. federal government, the administration of President Donald Trump, with key input from adviser Elon Musk, has overseen the termination of over 9,500 federal employees. The layoffs, which took effect on Friday, have impacted workers across several departments, including Interior, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services.
The dismissals primarily targeted probationary employees in their first year of service, who have fewer job protections under federal employment laws. The mass layoffs are part of a broader initiative to downsize the federal bureaucracy, which Trump has long criticized as bloated and inefficient.
Large-Scale Layoffs Reshape Federal Agencies
On Thursday, the federal government’s human resources division advised agencies to terminate most of the estimated 200,000 probationary employees, marking a significant acceleration in Trump’s efforts to reduce the size of government. Some agencies have been severely impacted, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has been largely shut down. Employees on fixed-term contracts have also been affected by the cuts.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is expected to announce thousands of additional layoffs next week, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Buyout Program and Legislative Reactions
The layoffs follow an earlier buyout program spearheaded by Trump and Musk, which encouraged federal employees to voluntarily leave their positions. So far, approximately 75,000 workers—roughly 3% of the 2.3 million-strong civilian federal workforce—have accepted the offer, according to White House officials.
Trump has defended the move as necessary to curb wasteful spending, citing the federal government’s $36 trillion debt and last year’s $1.8 trillion budget deficit. While most Republican lawmakers, who control both chambers of Congress, have supported the restructuring, Democrats have accused Trump of overstepping congressional authority in federal budget management.
Musk’s Role Sparks Controversy
Elon Musk’s involvement in the federal overhaul has drawn criticism from political and economic analysts, with concerns raised over the extent of his influence in reshaping government operations. However, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed these concerns, stating in an interview with Fox Business Network, “These are serious people conducting thorough audits, examining best practices across agencies to ensure efficiency.”
As the Trump administration continues its aggressive push for government reform, the long-term impact of these drastic measures remains to be seen. With further layoffs anticipated, the restructuring of the federal workforce is likely to remain a contentious issue in Washington
