Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s big project to cut in the workforce of the federal administration can start. THE Washington Post reported this Thursday, February 13, that the American administration had enjoined the management of government agencies to separate from most of their workforce during trial period. The department of veterans of the United States was one of the first to confirm these layoffs, indicating in a press release published Thursday that it has dismissed more than 1,000 employees in probationary period. “The dismissals announced today are part of an effort from the Trump administration across the government to make agencies more effective,” said the press release.
According to the Washington Postwho was able to speak with several dozen federal employees and obtain several documents, the federal agencies acted very quickly to implement the directive. Thousands of workers have been dismissed in messages broadcast through pre -recorded videos and during collective calls. Some were ordered to leave the building within 30 minutes. Others have been informed that they would be officially dismissed by electronic letters, which have never arrived.
An employee of the office responsible for federal officials (OPM) confirmed to AFP – subject to anonymity – to have been dismissed this Thursday, after being warned during a videoconference to which nearly 100 people had been invited. This employee, as well as several others, was still during a trial period. She then received a letter from Charles Ezell, acting director of the OPM, confirming her dismissal.
200,000 employees during trial period
More than 200,000 federal employees are in probationary period, according to the most recent government figures, a provisional status which facilitates their dismissal. While some are young university graduates, others, older, had left the private sector to join the public service. When questioned, the OPM and the White House did not respond immediately to AFP requests.
This decision comes the day after the green light given by an American judge at the plan of the Trump government, encouraging federal officials to resign against a payroll maintained until the end of September. Led by the OPM, this starting plan is disputed, in particular by civil servants’ unions. More than 75,000 federal employees have so far accepted the resignation offer, according to the Washington Post.
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government employees, the largest union representing federal workers, said in a statement that his union “would fight against these layoffs at each stage of the process”, in particular by intending “all legal appeals possible “. “The employees have not received any notice, did not benefit from a regular procedure and did not have the possibility of defending themselves, which constitutes a blatant violation of the principles of equity and merit which are supposed to govern Employment at the federal level, “he said.
The office responsible for federal officials had warned in an email that neither “the sustainability” of the position of employees who refused to resign, nor that of their administration, would be guaranteed. An employee of the US Department of Housing, who agreed to leave his post, told AFP that he made this decision due to the fear of being later dismissed. “It was my dream job,” said this civil servant, who was not in a trial period but employed in this ministry for shorter than many of his colleagues. Contacted, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing did not respond immediately.
Elon Musk, appointed by Donald Trump at the head of a commission with government efficiency (DOGE), launched himself in a vast offensive intended to reduce public spending, overwhelming the functioning of the American federal state with methods Disped as brutal.