OPM fires 200,000 probationary workers under new federal rules

Trump administration fired over 200,000 probationary federal employees starting Feb. 13, 2025, targeting workers hired during Biden administration who lacked civil service protections.

Federal judge ruled the mass firings illegal on Feb. 28, 2025, finding the administration falsely cited poor performance to justify terminations while affected workers had received efficiency awards and exceeded expectations.

Agencies fired probationary employees across the government including 1,000+ CDC workers, Department of Education staff, Veterans Affairs personnel, and National Park Service employees like Eileen and James Kramer in Alaska.

The firings violated due process requirements as probationary employees retain legal protections against arbitrary dismissal, with agencies required to document legitimate performance issues rather than conducting blanket terminations.

Office of Personnel Management became ground zero for the purge, with dozens of its own probationary employees told on a Thursday afternoon call they were fired and must leave the building within 30 minutes.

Early retirement buyouts backfired by attracting experienced employees rather than poor performers, with the most marketable workers accepting packages while less qualified staff remained unable to find private sector jobs.

Federal employee unions filed lawsuits as AFGE President Everett Kelley condemned the firings as politically driven targeting of workers hired before Trump took office rather than performance-based decisions.