Federal employees are enduring emotional whiplash from Trump’s first five weeks in office, as the administration and Elon Musk have attempted to brute-force their ‘drained swamp’ vision of federal agencies on the workforce.
A sweeping shake-up is underway, as large-scale layoffs, executive orders, and a controversial mandate from Musk fuel concerns about the stability of government operations. Despite mounting resistance, the upheaval shows no signs of slowing down, with each new policy change intensifying the uncertainty. The latest developments signal a dramatic restructuring effort by the Trump administration, with significant job cuts and policy shifts affecting thousands of federal employees.
What Should You Do?
Every federal employee’s situation is different, and the lawyers at Potomac Legal Group have counseled federal employees to assist them in navigating this turbulent period.
Potomac Legal Group is highly experienced in representing employees against federal agencies. Our lawyers have won at hearing, and we have settled numerous federal employment claims with significant six-figure outcomes, including a $475,000.00 settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and a $715,000.00 settlement with the Department of Homeland Security.
Federal employment protections are codified under law, and executive order or not, no president can simply bypass them.
Processes for federal discipline and separations, probationary terminations, and reductions in force are not optional. Many federal workers have reasonable accommodation requests already in place or pending. Additionally, it’s becoming apparent that these mass terminations are falling disproportionately on people of protected classes, which include age, gender, race and more.
Our attorneys remain committed to representing only the interests of employees in federal employment representation, and the Firm does not engage in any other counseling or employment training as a vendor to any federal agency.
If you are seeking counsel or representation, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
What Has Happened?
Shortly after the inauguration, Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), launched the administration’s shakeup by offering a deferred resignation package to all federal employees. The offer was sent out on January 28th, and had a short acceptance deadline, February 6th, which was later pushed to the 12th. Reportedly, the majority of employees who accepted the offer were already planning to retire or leave federal employment in 2025.
More recently, federal agencies have moved to terminate a substantial number of employees, particularly those still within their probationary periods. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has instructed agencies to reduce staff, leading to a conservative estimate of more than 200,000 job losses across various government departments.
Reportedly, at least one agency has redefined certain employees as probationary, retroactively applying this status to those who had worked up to a year under the assumption their positions were secure, allowing for terminations under this new classification.
The cuts have disproportionately affected key agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Health and Human Services.
It also appears that the administration has unilaterally decided to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development, resulting in at least 2,000 staff terminations and an unknown number of contract workers.
And in his most recent significant action, President Trump has directed OPM and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to order all federal agencies to develop plans to eliminate employee positions. In a memo to agency heads on February 26, 2025, the OPM and OMB directors have ordered agencies to submit plans for a reduction in force (RIF) by March. Based on the aggressive timelines in the memo, the plan could result in an unspecified number of terminations completed by early June of 2025. We assume that a large number of workers would be impacted by this RIF.
Executive Order Targets DEI Programs
The Trump administration has also introduced Executive Order 14151, which mandates the immediate dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across all federal agencies. The directive requires agencies to not only eliminate DEI initiatives but also identify and remove employees who were involved in such efforts. An email was also sent out instructing employees to report their colleagues who do not abide by the new order, or who they suspect to be hired under previous DEI initiatives.
The administration argues that this executive order will refocus government hiring and training on merit-based evaluations rather than social initiatives. However, the policy appears discriminatory and is likely to have already resulted in wrongful terminations.
Elon Musk’s Directive and Federal Worker Response
Musk has added another layer of controversy by issuing a directive requiring federal employees to submit weekly reports detailing their work accomplishments. Employees who fail to comply have been warned that they will be considered to have resigned from their positions.
This move has been met with significant resistance, with multiple agencies advising their staff to disregard Musk’s order. The Department of Defense and the FBI have reportedly instructed employees to follow only directives issued by their respective leadership, citing concerns over the legality of Musk’s involvement in federal workforce policies. The Office of Personnel Management most recently stated that the demand was not a requirement of all federal employees. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs, was one agency that has required responses.
Legal Challenges and Public Outcry
The policy changes and layoffs have sparked a wave of legal disputes.
A federal judge recently ruled that the administration could proceed with a voluntary buyout program, offering severance packages to approximately 75,000 federal employees.
Meanwhile, public opposition to the administration’s workforce policies has intensified, with constituents pressuring lawmakers to address concerns over the mass layoffs and perceived politicization of the federal government. Some Republican lawmakers have faced backlash in town hall meetings, as worries grow about the effects on government services and regional economies that rely on federal jobs.
Impact on Veterans and Minority Groups
Veterans, who make up roughly 30% of the federal workforce, are among the groups most affected by the layoffs. Many have expressed concerns that they could be disproportionately targeted in the job cuts, raising alarms about the government’s commitment to veteran employment.
Uncertain Future for Government Operations
Economic analysts warn that the drastic reduction in the federal workforce is likely to have a ripple effect on the broader economy. With tens of thousands of government employees facing layoffs, affected regions may experience a decline in consumer spending and subsequent rise in unemployment.
Operationally, agencies are already feeling the strain of staffing shortages, with delays in essential services steadily on the rise. Experts caution that the full impact of these policies may not be realized for months, or even years, as agencies struggle to adapt to a significantly reduced workforce.
As legal battles unfold and political tensions rise, the fate of thousands of federal employees remains uncertain.
Potomac Legal Group: Federal Employee Representation
Potomac Legal Group has a long record of experience in representing federal employees in discrimination, harassment, and retaliation cases, as well as EEOC hearings and agency investigations. Contact us today to review your matter.
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