NOAA Layoffs: Trump Administration Reportedly Cutting 20% of Workforce

NOAA Workforce Slashed by 20% Amid Budget Cuts

The Trump administration has launched a widespread effort to slash federal government staffing, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) set to lay off approximately 20% of its workforce, according to The New York Times. These cuts are part of a broader strategy to reduce government spending and streamline operations, though critics argue the layoffs could undermine essential public services.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been ordered to lay off approximately 1,000 workers on top of the 1,300 already dismissed, reducing its workforce by roughly 20%, according to the Times. The White House / Wikimedia

IRS and VA Facing Historic Workforce Reductions

Meanwhile, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reportedly aiming to cut its workforce in half, following a previous layoff of 7,000 workers and the closure of over 110 offices during peak tax season. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) also reportedly aims to return to its 2019 staffing levels, which would require eliminating around 80,000 positions. A reorganization planned for August is expected to "resize and tailor the workforce to the mission and revised structure." G. Edward Johnson / Wikimedia

FEMA Targets Employees in Climate and Equity Roles

Other federal agencies have been similarly impacted. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been instructed to identify employees involved in "climate, environmental justice, equity, and DEIA initiatives" for possible termination, according to CNN. ajay_suresh / Wikimedia

EPA Facing Deep Cuts Amid Trump’s Spending Reduction Push

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also facing severe reductions, with Trump previously stating that Administrator Lee Zeldin intended to cut 65% of EPA employees. However, the White House later clarified that this figure referred to a reduction in spending rather than personnel. Fry1989 / Wikimedia

Layoffs Reach Across CIA, SSA, DoD, and DOE

The layoffs extend across numerous other federal bodies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Social Security Administration (SSA), Department of Defense (DoD), and the Department of Education. The Department of Energy has also seen 2,000 employees fired, Politico reported, though some working on nuclear security have been reinstated, per Bloomberg. Kaboompics.com / Pexels

Legal Challenges Mount Over Federal Firings

The legality of these terminations is under scrutiny, particularly concerning probationary employees—those who have worked for the federal government for less than a year and lack certain job protections. U.S. District Judge William Alsup recently ordered the Office of Personnel Management to rescind firing directives that led to many of these layoffs, citing federal protocols requiring terminations to be for "individualized cause." PD-US / Wikimedia

Lawsuits Pile Up as Federal Unions Challenge Mass Layoffs

Labor unions and federal agencies have filed multiple lawsuits challenging the mass dismissals. Some judges have ruled in favor of the Trump administration, while others have found the terminations unlawful. The Supreme Court has temporarily allowed the administration to freeze USAID’s foreign assistance while assessing the broader issue. Optimager / Wikimedia

Elon Musk’s Role in Federal Workforce

Though many of the cuts have been linked to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, Trump clarified in a recent Cabinet meeting that agency heads—not Musk—hold the final authority over firings. However, Trump added that if agency leaders fail to implement reductions, "then Elon will do the cutting."

Musk has faced bipartisan criticism, particularly after he sent an email demanding federal employees list five accomplishments to justify their positions. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) called the directive "absurd" and akin to "intimidation." Musk met with Republican lawmakers last week, reportedly downplaying his role in the layoffs. The White House / Wikimedia

Schedule F Returns: Trump’s Plan to Overhaul Federal Jobs

The Trump administration is targeting an overall budget reduction of 30% to 40% across government agencies. In addition to the layoffs, Trump reinstated "Schedule F," an executive order making it easier to fire federal employees by classifying them as at-will workers. Several labor unions have filed lawsuits to block this policy.

While supporters argue the cuts will eliminate inefficiency, critics warn that reducing government personnel on such a large scale could jeopardize essential services, from tax processing to disaster response and environmental regulation. White House / Wikimedia