In a dramatic push to streamline government operations, President Donald Trump, alongside adviser Elon Musk, has fired more than 9,500 federal workers on Friday.
The terminations affected employees at key agencies including the Departments of Interior, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services, as part of a broader effort to shrink what officials call an overly bloated federal bureaucracy.
According to multiple reports, the layoffs have primarily targeted probationary employees in their first year on the job—who carry fewer employment protections—though the cuts have not been limited exclusively to this group. In addition to the dismissals, the White House confirmed that approximately 75,000 workers, representing about 3% of the 2.3 million-person civilian workforce, have already taken a buyout offer as part of the administration’s reform agenda.
Trump has repeatedly argued that the federal government wastes money and that excessive bureaucracy contributes to the nation’s $36 trillion debt and $1.8 trillion deficit last year. Despite bipartisan consensus on the need for reform, congressional Democrats contend that these actions encroach on Congress’s constitutional authority over federal spending, even as Republicans, who control both chambers, have largely backed the moves.
The rapid pace of the cuts has reportedly led to growing frustration within the White House. Sources told Reuters that even top aides, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, have expressed concerns over what they describe as a lack of coordination between Trump’s team and Musk’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Beyond workforce reductions, the administration is also seeking to overhaul federal operations by weakening civil-service protections, freezing most U.S. foreign aid, and attempting to significantly curtail the operations of agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Almost half of the probationary staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health are reportedly being forced out, while the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service have announced layoffs affecting approximately 3,400 and 1,000 recent hires, respectively.
Additional cuts loom as the Internal Revenue Service prepares to dismiss thousands of workers ahead of the April 15 tax filing deadline, raising concerns about potential impacts on essential services. Federal programs that once hired seasonal firefighters and removed hazardous dead wood from forests have already been scaled back, leaving some to warn that vital public services may suffer as a result.
Critics have also raised questions about the role of Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, whose influence on the administration’s sweeping reforms has stirred controversy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended Musk’s DOGE initiative on Fox Business Network, stating, “These are serious people, and they’re going from agency to agency, doing an audit, looking for best practices.” However, budget experts suggest that the early cuts—driven by a team of young engineers with limited government experience—appear to be motivated more by ideology than by potential cost savings.
The job cuts have left many federal employees reeling. Nick Gioia, a veteran and former USDA Economic Research Service employee, expressed deep dismay, saying, “I’ve done a lot for my country and as a veteran, I feel like I’ve been betrayed by my country.” Similarly, Steve Lenkart, executive director of the National Federation of Federal Employees union, which represents over 100,000 workers, predicted that future efforts would likely focus on agencies regulating industry and finance—areas seen as impediments to big business.
Not all layoffs have proceeded unchallenged. At the Department of Energy, where between 1,200 and 2,000 workers were laid off—including 325 from the National Nuclear Security Administration—some terminations were partially rescinded to retain essential nuclear security personnel. Furthermore, a federal court issued a temporary restraining order on Friday, preventing further staff cuts at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Unions representing federal employees have also launched lawsuits aimed at blocking the administration’s buyout plan.
In parallel, three federal judges are reviewing privacy cases related to DOGE’s access to Treasury Department payment systems and other sensitive data at various federal agencies. In one case, a judge in New York extended a temporary restraining order that bars DOGE from accessing Treasury systems—a legal battle that underscores the contentious nature of the sweeping reform effort.
As the Trump administration continues its aggressive overhaul of the federal workforce and operations, the long-term impacts on government efficiency and public services remain to be seen.
