Trump purge: Thousands of federal workers fired, programs frozen, and grants halted

In a sweeping move to reshape the federal government, President Donald Trump’s administration has dismissed thousands of federal employees, frozen key programs, and paused trillions of dollars in federal grant funds. The unprecedented layoffs, targeting both new hires and career employees, have sent shockwaves through agencies nationwide.

Mass firings and workforce reduction

The administration has undertaken large-scale reductions across multiple federal departments. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirmed that as of February 12, nearly 75,000 employees had accepted a controversial “deferred resignation” proposal, which offered financial incentives in exchange for voluntary exits. However, a federal judge temporarily blocked the plan just before its February 6 deadline, citing legal concerns raised by labor unions.

Beyond voluntary departures, the White House ordered agencies to dismiss nearly all probationary employees—those who have worked for less than a year and do not yet have civil service protections. According to OPM data, about 220,000 federal employees were in their probationary period as of March 2024, potentially making them vulnerable to the cuts.

Impact on key agencies

The wave of dismissals has affected nearly every major federal department:

• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): More than 1,000 employees with less than two years of service were let go on February 13. This included researchers working on cancer treatment, opioid addiction, prosthetics, and burn pit exposure. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) criticized the move, calling it a "reckless attack" on critical health programs.
  
• Education Department: At least 39 employees, including special education specialists and student aid officials, have been fired. The department’s Institute of Education Sciences, which tracks student progress, saw $900 million in funding cuts, leading to the termination of 169 contracts.
  
• Energy Department: Hundreds of employees working on the nation’s nuclear weapons programs were laid off on February 13, but the decision was abruptly reversed hours later. A memo obtained by the Associated Press indicated that as many as 350 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration lost access to their email accounts before being informed of their termination.
  
• Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): More than 5,000 probationary employees face potential layoffs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alone saw nearly 700 dismissals, affecting one-tenth of its workforce. Similar cuts were reported at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), though final numbers remain undisclosed.
  
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Over 130 cybersecurity employees, including 17 working on election security, were dismissed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also fired its chief financial officer, two program analysts, and a grant specialist over reimbursements related to migrant housing in New York City.
  
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS): The agency is expected to lay off thousands of probationary employees in the middle of tax season, although exact numbers and timing remain unclear.
  
• National Park Service (NPS): Approximately 1,000 recently hired employees responsible for park maintenance and visitor education were fired. However, after backlash, the agency reinstated around 5,000 seasonal workers initially slated for termination.
  

Shutdown of key programs and funding freezesThe administration has also taken sweeping steps to halt funding and shut down federal programs:

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): The agency, created after the 2008 financial crisis to regulate financial institutions, has been ordered to cease nearly all operations, effectively rendering it nonfunctional.
  
• Foreign Aid and Development:

Trump’s executive order put a 90-day hold on most foreign assistance through the State Department. While military aid to Israel and Egypt was exempted, thousands of humanitarian and security programs worldwide faced immediate shutdowns. USAID began laying off hundreds of employees, and the agency’s signage was removed from its Washington headquarters. A federal judge later intervened, temporarily lifting the funding freeze.

Federal Grants and Loans: The White House imposed a sweeping pause on all federal grants and loans, citing an ideological review of expenditures. The freeze, which could impact trillions of dollars, threatens funding for healthcare research, education programs, and infrastructure projects. A memo from Acting OMB Director Matthew Vaeth stated that taxpayer funds should not support “Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering.” Critics, including congressional Democrats, argue the move is illegal since Congress had already allocated the funds.

Inspector general purge and justice department firingsIn an aggressive move against internal oversight, Trump fired at least 17 inspectors general—officials responsible for conducting audits and preventing government fraud. Among them were multiple watchdogs he had appointed during his first term. While some Republican allies defended the firings as routine, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called it a "chilling purge." Even Republican Senator Lindsey Graham acknowledged possible legal violations, though he added, "Just tell them to follow the law next time."

The Justice Department also saw career prosecutors removed from their positions. Over a dozen employees involved in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into Trump were dismissed. Traditionally, career employees remain in place across administrations, but the removals signal an unprecedented level of intervention.

State department shakeupThe State Department was not spared from the sweeping changes. A significant number of senior career diplomats were pushed out of leadership roles, and lower-level officials were also dismissed. The full extent of the State Department shakeup remains unclear, but it marks a major disruption to U.S. foreign policy operations.

Political and legal backlash

The firings, funding freezes, and restructuring efforts have ignited fierce debate. Republican lawmakers largely support Trump’s moves, arguing they are necessary to streamline government and cut wasteful spending. Democrats, unions, and watchdog groups, however, have condemned the actions as reckless and legally dubious.

Multiple lawsuits challenging the administration’s decisions are already making their way through the courts. Judges have temporarily blocked some policies, including the deferred resignation plan and the foreign aid freeze, but the broader restructuring efforts continue.

As uncertainty looms over the federal workforce, employees across the country await further decisions that could determine their futures under the Trump administration’s aggressive overhaul.