2d ago

Trump administration lays off most probationary staff and warns big cuts to come

www.theguardian.com Trump administration lays off most probationary staff and warns big cuts to come

Office of personnel management orders agencies to dismiss workers who had not yet gained civil service protection

Summary

The Trump administration ordered federal agencies to lay off nearly all probationary employees, affecting potentially hundreds of thousands of workers.

This follows Trump’s executive order mandating large-scale workforce reductions. Elon Musk advocates for eliminating entire agencies.

Layoffs have already hit agencies like the VA and Education Department, sparking criticism.

Further deep cuts are planned, with hiring restricted to one for every four departures.

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The decision on probationary workers, who generally have less than a year on the job, came from the office of personnel management (OPM), which serves as a human resources department for the federal government.
Why do so many people with no idea how the federal government is structured keep trying to talk about it like they have a clue?
Obviously not as bad as the people running it not having a clue, but it's incredibly hypocritical for people just as ignorant to talk shit.
OPM is it's own agency.
They terminated their probationary employees, but they cannot fire anyone else's.
- The article could be incorrect, but they state that OPM is directing all agencies to terminate their probationary employees. OPM is the source of all these agency directives that come from exec orders. The exec order is created and then OPM issues “guidance” to all the other agencies about what they are required to do per the order.
  So no, this is not just OPM, it’s every agency that has not been exempted (based on the memo, which we haven’t seen yet). The RTO guidance and DEI removal guidance also came from OPM. There is some per-agency leeway provided (again we’ll have to see the memo) but my understanding is agencies generally have to comply with OPM direction unless it’s unlawful (this may or may not be, I don’t know).
  
  but they state that OPM is directing all agencies
  Maybe I just have whiplash...
  We went from pretending the president has zero control over federal agencies, to a president can order them to do anything in a matter of weeks.
  Neither are correct. But you'd never know if you just listened to billionaire owned media.
  You might not even notice when something is good for workers, it's impossible. When it's good for owners there's always a way.
  
  Yeah it’s really been making my mind melt. The constant malicious lies that musk keeps tweeting for instance are treated as credible, when he clearly hasn’t a clue what he’s talking about, etc.
  I still can’t figure out if there’s like an actual protocol for engaging things like RIF / downsizing where you have to show rationale and evidence… it blows my mind that any president could just decide to unilaterally shelve agencies, etc.
  But I guess it’s kinda a moot point if there isn’t any enforcement of laws or if congress doesn’t have any interest in maintaining their power portfolio.

11 comments