Mass Layoffs at Departments of the Interior, Energy, and Agriculture
Most Affected Are Probationary Employees Without Employment Protection
Nearly 10,000 government employees lost their jobs due to the dismissal actions taken by U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Local foreign media reported on the 14th (local time), citing sources, that a large number of probationary employees from the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services have been dismissed so far.
The Trump administration had instructed federal agencies on the 13th to dismiss almost all probationary employees with less than one year of service.
Earlier, on the 11th, President Trump signed an executive order directing heads of federal agencies to swiftly begin preparations for large-scale layoffs, standing alongside Musk, the head of DOGE, which is responsible for federal government restructuring.
President Trump initially attempted to reduce federal workforce through voluntary retirement. However, when the number of applicants fell short of expectations at around 75 million, he announced additional measures.
Accordingly, dismissals were mainly targeted at probationary employees who generally do not have employment protection, and it is reported that some non-probationary employees were also included. Foreign media reported, "The exact number of probationary employees working in government agencies is unknown, but the target is estimated to be around 200,000."
Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with President Donald Trump (right). Photo by Yonhap News
The total number of dismissed personnel is estimated to be over 9,500, possibly reaching up to 10,000.
By department, approximately 2,300 were dismissed from the Department of the Interior, 1,200 to 2,000 from the Department of Energy, about 3,400 from the U.S. Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture, which accounts for 10% of its total workforce, over 1,000 from the Department of Veterans Affairs, at least 160 from the Department of Education, about 100 from the General Services Administration (GSA), and about 100 from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Additionally, 1,300 employees were laid off from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the Department of Health and Human Services, accounting for one-tenth of its total staff. At the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), 70 probationary employees and several dozen temporary contract workers were reportedly notified of their dismissal.
Furthermore, there are reports that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is preparing to lay off thousands of employees next week.
Thousands of dismissed employees were notified of their termination through pre-recorded videos or group calls. Some were even instructed to leave the building within 30 minutes.
The shock of being suddenly expelled from their workplaces was reported to be considerable. Nick Zoia, who joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture last December after 17 years of military service, expressed his feelings upon receiving the dismissal notice, saying, "I feel betrayed by my country," and added, "This feels like a game that has nothing to do with federal employees."
He further criticized, "When I see people like Musk posting on X (formerly Twitter) about how great their work is, it seems they have no idea what they are doing to people's lives."
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