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Federal employees and union sources told CNN on Wednesday, as many shootings have begun at federal agencies and the end of probation employees ongoing at the Department of Education and Small Business Administration.
The firing of probation employees aims to dramatically reduce the federal workforce, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s first from the Trump administration as government efficiency. Until now, federal employees of all government agencies were only placed on paid administrative leave.
The same day has come when a federal judge allowed the administration’s postponed resignation program to proceed. Approximately 77,000 employees accepted the offer. This will allow you to quit your job, but you will be paid until the end of September.
A form letter sent to Ministry of Education employees obtained by CNN has notified them of termination. ”
In the Department of Education, the layoffs have affected employees across the agency of the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, which supports programs for children with disabilities, a union source told CNN.
Sources said they had heard of the dozens of fired employees, but the full extent of the shooting was not immediately clear.
The U.S. Government Employee Federation represents approximately 160 Education Department employees and falls under probation status.
A letter similar to the Ministry of Education’s termination notice was sent to small business management employees on Tuesday. The full scale of the shooting at the agency was unknown as of Wednesday evening.
Probation employees for SMEs had received unsigned draft notices for the termination of employment, both Friday and Monday, according to an internal agency email reviewed by CNN.
Later on Monday, the agency sent another email to the draft notice, advisering the employee that it was “sent incorrectly.” So it is not currently valid.” The email continued. “If you have received the initial notice, your employment has not ended as incorrectly indicated in the first notice.” According to a union representing the employee, the next day notice of dismissal will be followed by a probation notice. was sent to an employee.
Six people familiar with the situation also expected to fire a probationary employee at the U.S. Energy Agency on Thursday evening. People said the situation within the sector is fluid and it is previously unknown that the total number of employees could face layoffs.
DOE has approximately 2,000 probation employees. A person familiar with agency staffing told CNN, but it was unclear how many people will be affected by Thursday’s actions. CNN contacted DOE for comment.
The Energy Agency’s acting advisor held a meeting with the department head on Thursday to ask him to edit a list of “mission-critical” trial employees who could potentially exempt layoffs, the person told CNN. He spoke. However, those lists had not been finalized as of Thursday afternoon, the person said.
Probation employees are defined as federal employees who are in the department less than a year, but the recent office in the HR memo is the federal government who works for less than two years. employees also said they would be considered probation.
The firing of probation workers has been in work since the OPM representative ordered the office to send memos to all agencies and send a list of all probation workers together. A January 20 memo noted that it would be easier to close these employees.
However, the OPM advises agencies that it is not necessary to cull all probation workers, but not to focus on those who are performing poorly. CBS News first reported an advisory.
“The Trump administration encourages the use of probationary periods as intended as a continuation of the employment application process, rather than as a permanent employment qualification.”
The firing is part of the administration’s multifaceted efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce. In addition to his postponed offer of resignation, Trump began a wide-ranging layoff planning process on Tuesday.
The president also hopes to push federal employees who work completely remotely or fully remotely on certain days by requesting that they return to the office full time. Additionally, he targets federal employees involved in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives, targeting the education sector, the U.S. International Development Agency and the Consumer Financial Protection Agency.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
Ella Nilsen of CNN contributed to this report.
