Over the holiday weekend, the Trump administration fired thousands of U.S. federal government employees in a controversial move that has sparked significant backlash. According to a report by The Washington Post, managers were compelled to execute the dismissals by Tuesday, leading to what employees have called the \"St. Valentine's Day Massacre\" in group texts and online forums.
The firings primarily targeted new hires on probation, who have limited protections compared to permanent staff. Additionally, individuals with years of service who had recently transferred between agencies, military veterans, and employees with disabilities employed through expedited hiring programs were also affected. These workers were placed on two years' probation, making them more vulnerable to termination.
\"Most probationary employees have limited rights to appeal dismissals, but union heads have vowed to challenge the mass firings in court,\" the report noted. The largest union representing federal workers has also indicated plans to fight the terminations and pursue legal action.
Critics have raised concerns about the swift actions taken by the administration as it attempts to fulfill a vision of a leaner, reshaped government, a goal championed by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. The latest wave of personnel changes has already led to an administrative complaint on behalf of workers at nine agencies, adding to over a dozen legal challenges to Trump's authority in just one month into his term.
The dismissals have impacted employees across nearly every agency, including roles such as map makers, archaeologists, and cancer researchers. Some workers have expressed that these terminations contradict a U.S. Office of Personnel Management directive to retain \"mission-critical\" workers.
Reference(s):
Trump admin fires thousands of workers without evidence: report
cgtn.com
