Unpacking the Impact: A Deep Dive into DOGE’s Layoffs and Firings

In the first month of President Donald Trump’s administration, a significant number of federal workers have lost their jobs. The White House has directed agencies to prepare for large layoffs and has put a freeze on billions in federal grants.

This impact reaches beyond the Washington, D.C. area, which houses only about 20% of the 2.4 million federal employees. Surprisingly, over 80% of federal workers live outside the capital.

Although there are no official numbers on the total layoffs, reports suggest that various federal employees and agencies are experiencing major changes:

The White House introduced a “deferred resignation” plan, encouraging almost all federal workers to leave their jobs by February 6 in exchange for benefits like paid leave. However, just days before the deadline, a federal judge stopped this plan, citing concerns raised by unions. Approximately 75,000 employees had accepted the offer before the block.

Proposed layoffs have also targeted probationary employees—those who have worked for less than a year without the protection of civil service. On February 13, the administration instructed agencies to cut nearly all such workers, affecting potentially hundreds of thousands. As of March 2024, there were about 220,000 federal employees in this situation.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the dismissal of over 1,000 employees who had been with the agency for less than two years. This included researchers focused on cancer treatments and other important health projects, raising concerns about the future of ongoing research.

The Education Department laid off at least 39 staff members, including specialists in special education. Additionally, the department faced nearly $900 million in cuts affecting its Institute of Education Services, which monitors student progress.

In the Energy Department, layoffs initially impacted hundreds of employees involved in nuclear weapons programs. However, many of these dismissals were reversed just hours later.

The Department of Health and Human Services saw cuts affecting more than 5,000 employees, including nearly 1,300 probationary workers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the Department of Homeland Security, there were cuts involving over 130 employees from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which is crucial for protecting the nation’s infrastructure.

Even the Internal Revenue Service planned to lay off thousands of staff during the busy tax season, but details on the exact number and timing are unclear.

The National Park Service cut about 1,000 newly hired employees responsible for maintaining parks. Surprisingly, the agency then announced it would reinstate about 5,000 seasonal jobs that had been initially canceled.

Moreover, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau faced near shutdown, being ordered to stop most of its operations, disrupting vital consumer protections. The Agriculture Department hinted at possible layoffs, while also expressing interest in collaborating with Elon Musk’s team.

Foreign aid has seen a significant halt, with a freeze on assistance directed through the State Department, affecting many humanitarian programs worldwide. USAID, for example, had to lay off hundreds of employees due to funding issues.

A freeze on federal grants and loans was also imposed, which could disrupt many areas, including healthcare and education initiatives. Agencies have expressed confusion and concern over this halt, with arguments about its legality emerging from different political corners.

Across federal agencies, independent watchdogs known as inspectors general have been dismissed, raising alarms about accountability and oversight. In total, at least 17 inspectors general have been let go.

Lastly, the Justice and State Departments have seen significant changes in their workforce, with many career employees being let go or reassigned under the new administration’s directives.