Will Trump’s Layoffs Transform the Federal Government for the Better?

The federal government saw a wave of firings last week that continued into the holiday weekend. Most of those let go were “probationary” employees. This means they were either new hires or had recently moved to a different agency. Unfortunately, probationary status offers them less protection from being fired.

There are still some uncertainties regarding the total number of employees affected. However, here’s what we do know:

• Approximately 400 employees from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), mostly in research and administrative roles.
• About 3,600 workers from the Department of Health and Human Services, including up to 750 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a similar number from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Roughly 400 employees from the Department of Homeland Security, including around 200 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
• About 2,300 employees at the Department of the Interior, including significant numbers from the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service.
• Over 3,000 workers from the Forest Service, which is part of the Department of Agriculture.
• More than 1,000 from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• At least 300 employees from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Over 1,500 from NASA, which is about 10% of its workforce.

Reports suggest that the process of firing these employees was chaotic. For instance, some workers at the National Nuclear Security Administration were asked to return to work after being let go.

The Trump administration defends these layoffs as a way to reduce federal spending and cut down on what they describe as a bloated bureaucracy. However, it’s debatable whether these cuts will lead to significant savings for taxpayers or if they might hinder the government’s ability to protect citizens.

For example, the Veterans Affairs claimed the firings would save $98 million a year. While that sounds like a lot, it’s just a tiny fraction of the federal budget, which totaled around $6.75 trillion last year. It’s comparable to finding a dime amidst stacks of bills—it’s nice, but not enough to notice in the grand scheme.

Experts argue that if real cuts are needed, they should target larger expenses like Medicare and defense, rather than making relatively small layoffs.

When looking at the overall size of the government, these firings barely make a dent. When considering past layoffs and buyouts, around 4% of the federal workforce has been cut. That still leaves over 2 million government employees, ensuring that basic services won’t falter overnight. However, there are concerns about the long-term effects of these cuts.

As fire season approaches, those in the field are worried about the reduced manpower for wildfire response. Firefighters express concerns that the situation could become dire this season without adequate staffing.

The upcoming spring break and summer travel season add more stress. While the FAA confirmed that air traffic controllers were not among those let go, experts warn that our flight systems are already stretched thin.

In addition to wildfires and air travel, federal agencies are always on alert for emergencies, whether it’s natural disasters or potential health crises. Federal employees have been working hard to manage issues like bird flu outbreaks, and a lack of personnel could hinder critical responses when they’re most needed.

The full impact of these layoffs is unclear. There are valid concerns that if the situation worsens, it may be too late to rectify the damage. It’s a precarious balance, and many hope for the best while preparing for potential challenges ahead.