OPM Orders Mass Firing of 200,000 Probationary Federal Workers

The Office of Personnel Management directed federal agencies to terminate approximately 200,000 probationary employees — workers with less than one to two years of service who have fewer civil service protections. Acting OPM Director Charles Ezell issued the directive as part of the administration's push to rapidly shrink the federal workforce. Unions warned the firings bypassed statutory procedures and would devastate agency capacity.