Federal agencies have begun widespread layoffs of employees in their probationary periods ordered by the Trump administration. Image: JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it dismissed over 1,000 probationary employees as part of an effort to streamline operations and refocus efforts, saying the move would save $98 million per year – that it can redirect to health care, benefits, and services for VA beneficiaries.
The employees let go include non-bargaining unit probationary personnel who have served less than a year in competitive service or fewer than two years in excepted service; Employees covered under collective bargaining agreements were exempt from the reductions, the VA said.
According to VA Secretary Doug Collins, this move aligns with a broader government effort to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of federal agencies. “These changes won’t negatively impact health care or benefits for Veterans. Instead, the resources will be used to better serve those who rely on the VA,” Collins stated. More details on how these resources will be allocated are expected in the coming weeks.
The probationary period typically is one year in the competitive service and two years in the excepted service, although there are exceptions. The government averages around 200,000 employees in that status at any given time out of the 2.3 million total; as of the most recent OPM data from last May, the number was 216,000.
Federal agencies have begun widespread layoffs of employees in their probationary periods ordered by the Trump administration, although without formal guidance so far, there has been substantial confusion and the potential for significant differences among agencies.
Such layoffs began earlier in the week but have picked up since the Tuesday evening closure of the “deferred resignation” window. There has been no government-wide accounting so far, however.
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