The Trump administration has escalated efforts to shrink the federal workforce by ordering agencies to fire nearly all probationary employees who have not yet gained civil service protections. This move could impact hundreds of thousands of workers. The directive, issued by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), was confirmed by an anonymous source. Employees within OPM were also affected, with dozens dismissed during a group call and instructed to leave the building within 30 minutes.

These firings are the first step in a broader push for mass layoffs following Trump’s executive order directing agencies to prepare for “large-scale reductions in force.” The administration has also warned employees at various federal agencies that deep cuts are imminent.

Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, has advocated for eliminating entire agencies. “If we don’t remove the roots of the weed, then it’s easy for the weed to grow back,” Musk said during a video call at the World Governments Summit.

Critics, including Everett Kelley of the American Federation of Government Employees, have denounced the move as a politically motivated purge rather than a performance-based review. The impact has been immediate, with dozens fired from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Education, including special education specialists and civil rights workers. The Department of Veterans Affairs has also been hit, with researchers working on cancer treatments and opioid addiction told to stop their work.

The layoffs are unlikely to significantly reduce the federal deficit. Federal payroll expenses amount to $271 billion annually, but even eliminating all civilian employees wouldn’t erase the trillion-dollar deficit driven by Social Security and Medicare costs.

Experts warn that these firings disproportionately target younger workers. Elaine Kamarck of the Brookings Institution noted that retiring Baby Boomers are already depleting the federal workforce, making it counterproductive to fire probationary employees, who tend to have better technological skills.

Trump’s administration had previously attempted a voluntary buyout program, but fewer employees accepted the offer than anticipated. As a result, the administration is pushing forward with more aggressive measures.

At agencies like the National Science Foundation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, employees have been warned that some workforces may be cut in half. Trump’s order also limits hiring—only one new employee can be added for every four who leave—while requiring Musk’s office to approve new hires.

Trump has justified these actions by attacking federal employees, particularly those working remotely. While cutting office space, his administration has simultaneously ordered terminations of worksite leases. “Nobody is gonna work from home,” Trump declared. “They’re gonna be going out, they’re gonna play tennis, they’re gonna play golf. They’re not working.”

The aggressive downsizing raises concerns about the long-term effects on government operations, public services, and the ability to retain skilled professionals in the federal workforce.