Layoffs of U.S. Government Workforce

(Reuters) – President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk are undertaking a sweeping campaign to cut the size of the 2.3 million-strong civilian U.S. government workforce. Over 260,000 employees have been fired, taken early retirement, earmarked for termination, or accepted buyouts.

A new wave of cuts targeting career government workers has begun, along with a second buyout offer. Over 75,000 federal employees accepted an original buyout deal offered in January.

Department-Specific Cuts

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

More than 22,000 employees at the IRS have accepted the Trump administration’s latest buyout offer. The IRS plans to eliminate 20% to 25% of its workforce by May 15, reducing its staff significantly from around 100,000 when Trump took office.

Social Security Administration

The Social Security Administration plans to cut 7,000 workers, reducing its workforce by more than 12% to 50,000.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The HHS will cut about 10,000 full-time jobs and close half of its regional offices, reducing full-time employees at the department from 82,000 to 62,000.

Veterans Affairs

The Department of Veterans Affairs is planning to cut more than 80,000 workers to return to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000.

Defense Department

The Pentagon has approved 21,000 applications from civilian employees for buyouts and aims to reduce its 950,000-strong workforce by 5% to 8%.

USAID

The U.S. Agency for International Development plans to cut 1,600 personnel in the U.S. and terminate over 10,000 foreign nationals employed abroad.

CIA

The Central Intelligence Agency has fired several recent hires, raising concerns about national security.

Department of Justice

At least 75 career lawyers and FBI officials have resigned or been removed in the early weeks of the Trump administration.

Department of the Interior

Approximately 2,300 workers were laid off, with significant cuts from the Bureau of Land Management.

Department of Agriculture

The USDA laid off nearly 6,000 probationary workers and offered further exit incentives in April.

Department of State

Staff cuts are being prepared across U.S. missions worldwide as part of a diplomatic overhaul.

Department of Energy

About 700 workers have been laid off, with up to 2,000 notified about impending layoffs.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA has cut 388 probationary employees and plans to significantly reduce its spending.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The FAA has fired over 300 employees amid air traffic safety concerns.

Department of Education

Trump signed an executive order aiming to dismantle the Department of Education, with plans to cut nearly half its staff.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NOAA is planning layoffs of 1,029 workers, following a previous round of cuts.

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration announced plans to eliminate about 2,700 jobs or roughly 40% of its overall staff.

Office of Personnel Management

OPM has laid off over 200 employees and allowed more than 400 to voluntarily exit since the start of Trump’s administration.

Other Agencies Facing Cuts

Several independent agencies, such as the U.S. Institute for Peace, Voice of America, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, are also facing cuts or closures.