OPM Lays Off Dozens of Employees in Effort to Reduce Federal Workforce

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), responsible for managing the federal civilian workforce, laid off dozens of employees on Thursday. This move aligns with the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce.

The exact number of employees affected remains unclear. However, sources familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the layoffs included probationary employees with less than two years of service, members of the agency's communications office, and Schedule A workers – individuals with severe disabilities.

Following a group call informing them of the layoffs, affected employees were locked out of their computer systems and asked to leave the building within an hour. An email to staff, obtained by The New York Times, stated that the agency's communications office was being dissolved as part of broader cuts at OPM.

These firings come a day after the Trump administration's implementation of a deferred resignation program for federal workers. This program encouraged employees to resign in exchange for being paid through September, despite lacking congressional funding approval. OPM reported that approximately 75,000 workers accepted the offer, and the program is now closed to new entries following a judge's approval.