Washington, D.C. — A shocking wave of firings has hit multiple U.S. government agencies as President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk push forward with their plan to drastically shrink the size of the federal workforce. According to union sources and employees, mass layoffs have already begun, and more are expected to follow.
In the last 48 hours, termination emails have been sent to dozens of government workers, particularly those who were recently hired and still in their probationary period. The affected agencies include the Department of Education, the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees government buildings.
While the exact number of workers laid off is unclear, this move aligns with Trump’s promise to eliminate what he calls the “deep state” — referring to government employees he believes are not fully loyal to him.
Why Are These Workers Being Fired?
Termination letters reviewed by Reuters reveal the reasoning behind these mass dismissals. One letter sent to at least 45 SBA employees stated:
“The Agency finds that you are not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge, and skills do not fit the current needs, and your performance has not been adequate to justify further employment with the Agency.”
Another letter sent to at least 160 new hires at the Education Department stated:
“Your continued employment would not be in the public interest.”
Trump, now serving his second term, has long been vocal about wanting to dismantle the Department of Education. Just this week, he called it a “con job” and reiterated his desire to shut it down completely.
At the GSA, about 100 probationary employees received termination letters on Wednesday. One employee, who had been receiving excellent performance reviews and was only a month away from completing his probation, was still let go.
“Up until two weeks ago, this was an absolute dream job. Now it’s become an absolute nightmare. I have small children and a mortgage to pay,” the worker told Reuters.
Musk’s Role in the Government Purge
Trump has enlisted Musk and a newly formed government agency called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to lead this massive downsizing effort. Musk, who has been given extraordinary power, is working with agencies to determine which employees should be dismissed.
A spokesperson from the Office of Personnel Management (the federal government’s HR department) defended the decision, saying:
“The Trump administration is encouraging agencies to use the probationary period as it was intended: as a continuation of the job application process, not an entitlement for permanent employment.”
This unprecedented move has caused widespread fear and uncertainty among government workers in Washington, D.C., many of whom worry that they will be next.
Why Is This Happening?
Trump argues that the government is too large and that taxpayer money is wasted on unnecessary jobs and inefficiencies. While there is bipartisan support for some form of government reform, critics argue that Musk’s aggressive approach goes too far. Some Republican budget experts have also raised concerns that this purge is politically motivated rather than purely about cost-cutting.
Musk, however, stands by the initiative. Speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai, he stated bluntly:
“We do need to delete entire agencies.”
How the Layoffs Are Happening
Musk’s team has already gained access to classified personnel and financial records within at least 15 government agencies. They have led efforts to shut down certain offices entirely, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides aid to struggling countries, and the CFPB, which protects Americans from financial fraud.
At the CFPB, 70 probationary employees were fired on Tuesday night. A longtime staff member there described the atmosphere:
“It’s just so stressful to deal with. We all feel that we will be next.”
Trump’s Latest Executive Order Gives DOGE More Power
On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order—while Musk stood by his side—that significantly expands DOGE’s authority. The order directs all government agencies to identify workers who can be laid off and to work closely with Musk’s team in executing these cuts.
Trump also scored a major legal victory when a federal judge ruled that the administration’s voluntary buyout program for government workers could proceed.
So far, 75,000 workers—about 3% of the entire civilian workforce—have signed up for the buyout. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that this number might have been exactly what the administration hoped for, stating:
“I’m not so sure that we didn’t hit the numbers we wanted.”
What Happens Next?
With Musk and DOGE continuing to identify more workers for termination, the fear of further layoffs is growing across federal agencies. Many believe that this is just the beginning of Trump and Musk’s broader plan to reshape the federal government.
Critics argue that this mass firing approach is reckless and could disrupt essential government services. Others, however, see it as a necessary step to reform a bloated system. Either way, one thing is clear: Washington, D.C., is experiencing one of the most dramatic government shakeups in modern history.
