In a memo released on Wednesday, officials from the Trump administration announced a plan for significant reductions in federal staffing levels. The memo instructed various departments across the government to prepare for layoffs and organizational changes by March 13. According to federal employees who spoke with Business Insider, the announcement was met with frustration, though many were not surprised by the decision to restructure.
The official announcement included directives from the White House, with President Trump indicating in a cabinet meeting that the Environmental Protection Agency could potentially reduce its workforce by as much as 65%. An OPM spokesperson remarked, “This administration has created a thoughtful, phased process to carry out workforce restructuring that will reduce unnecessary waste and bloat while continuing to deliver high-quality services to the American people.” However, specific targets for staffing reductions were not detailed in the memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management.
Some federal workers expressed feelings of uncertainty regarding their job security, with one Department of Veterans Affairs employee stating, “I have been told my job is exempt, but I truly don’t believe it.” Another worker described the situation as “crazy and illogical,” while a NASA employee characterized the cuts as “ungenerous to the point of cruelty,” expressing concern about the speed at which positions were to be eliminated.
The restructuring plan assigns a timeline for most federal agencies—law enforcement, military, border security, and postal service employees are exempt—to devise and implement layoff strategies. Agencies are required to submit their restructuring proposals by March 13, with a vision for improved efficiency due by April 14 and a deadline for full implementation set for September.
One employee from the Department of Defense voiced concern over job insecurity, wondering, “Will I be out of a job come April?” They added that financial instability for military families, as a result of this restructuring, seemed unfair given their service.
The memo also mandated the consolidation or closure of field office operations, which could impact Social Security Administration offices that deal with claims processing and disability hearings. A Social Security employee argued that reducing such services would exacerbate existing delays and frustration for the public, calling the motives behind the cuts “blind, stupid hatred of the public sector as a whole.”
An IRS employee warned that the ramifications of these cuts would be felt deeply by Americans, predicting a significant decline in available services. Meanwhile, a HUD employee reported feelings of confusion and instability regarding the restructuring, especially following a recent request from the White House for employee productivity reports.
Despite the low morale prevailing among federal workers, some have resolved to continue their service. An employee from the Bureau of Reclamation remarked on the unprecedented low morale, stating, “They’ll have to fire me” before I willingly leave my job.
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