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- A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reinstate roughly 25,000 federal employees.
- The temporary order is the latest example of the fight over President Donald Trump‘s mass firings.
- DOJ filings in the case also provide extensive details about the terminations thus far.
New documents filed by the Justice Department shed light on just how far the White House and its DOGE office have gone in trying to cut probationary staff from the federal government.
In declarations from 18 departments or agencies, officials said roughly 25,000 federal workers had been terminated across the government. Their disclosures are the largest insight yet into mass reductions that have become the signature focus of President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office.
Agency officials were required to file the declarations by Monday night in a legal case brought by 20 Democratic state attorneys general which allege that the mass firings were illegal. US District Court Judge James K. Bredar previously granted the attorneys general request to temporarily restrain the Trump administration from fully carrying out the terminations.
Many of the roughly 25,000 employees were put on administrative leave following their reinstatement, according to the filings. Some agencies have struggled to notify fired workers that they can come back. An IRS official said they had resorted to sending out certified mail.
Agency officials repeatedly warned that complying with Bredar’s order could cause chaos, especially if the temporary block is lifted and the workers are fired again. Even if employees can return to work, many officials said in the filings any reinstated employee would have to go through the onboarding process again, requiring them to obtain security badges, complete training, and receive whatever equipment they needed for their jobs. Some of the agencies said they don’t have enough office space.
The White House targeted probationary employees with less than two years of experience in their roles as early as Inauguration Day. Probationary employees are typically easier to terminate since they lack some civil service protections.
The DOGE office was not directly responsible for the Office of Personnel Management memo that prompted agencies to review the status of their probationary employees. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the de facto leader of the DOGE office, has championed mass firings and claimed credit for at least some efforts to reduce the size of government, namely the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Here are the agencies that have been hit the hardest so far, according to the filings.
Treasury Department
The Treasury Department terminated 7,605 out of roughly 16,663 probationary employees.
The IRS is by far the largest affected Treasury agency with 7,315 terminated employees.
The Department of Treasury, the second-oldest Cabinet department, manages federal finances, ensures financial security, and, through the IRS, collects taxes.
Agriculture Department
The Agriculture Department terminated roughly 5,714 employees.
The department said that on March 12, it reinstated all of the affected employees and put them on administrative leave as part of a phased plan for them to return to work.
USDA is responsible for food, nutrition, and rural development.
Health and Human Services Department
The Department of Health and Human Services terminated 3,248 out of roughly 8,466 probationary and trial period employees. Many of those employees were immediately put on leave, some with no set end date.
HHS said it has reinstated 88 employees and extended the leave of 2,855 others. Others were allowed to return to work. Additional employees were reinstated because they were found not to meet the definition of a probationary employee.
The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for promoting the health of Americans. Among the largest agencies in HHS are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which focuses on preventing diseases, the FDA, which ensures the safety of food and drugs, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees Medicare and helps administer the federal portion of Medicaid.
Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs terminated 1,900 of roughly 46,000 probationary employees. After a review, this was narrowed down to 1,683 employees.
The VA said it continues to try to notify those 1,683 employees of their reinstatement but has been unable to reach all of them.
The Veterans Affairs Department is the second-largest Cabinet agency. It is responsible for healthcare and other services to veterans.
Interior Department
The Department of Interior terminated 1,712 employees, including 1,303 probationary workers.
The Interior Department said it has canceled terminations for roughly 90% of the 1,710 employees terminated during their probationary or trial period. The department said it will not reinstate two employees who are covered by the order.
The Interior Department manages public lands both through the Bureau of Land Management, which awards commercial leases, and the National Parks Service, which manages national parks and many national monuments and historic sites.
Commerce Department
The Department of Commerce terminated 791 of roughly 9,000 total probationary or trial period employees.
The department said 27 employees were reinstated within days of firing “for various operational reasons.” The department said it had notified the other 764 employees of their reinstatement.
The Commerce Department helps promote economic growth and includes a wide range of agencies, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the Census Bureau, the latter of which is responsible for planning and administering the once-a-decade census.
Transportation Department
According to its filing, the Department of Transportation terminated 788 probationary employees.
The department said only 775 were affected by the court order. The remaining employees were either fired for performance reasons (2), already had their terminations rescinded (8), resigned (2), or accepted a deferred resignation program (1).
The 775 employees have all been notified of their reinstatement. The department said it would place all affected workers on leave through March 19 to allow time to coordinate their return, including returning government equipment and issuing new ID cards.
The Transportation Department is responsible for managing the nation’s transportation infrastructure, including agencies like the FAA and Federal Highway Administration.
Energy Department
The Department of Energy terminated 555 probationary employees.
The department said it had canceled the termination of all of the affected employees and placed them on retroactive leave until their badging and IT status are restored.
The Energy Department is responsible for national energy policy and maintaining the US’ nuclear infrastructure, including the security of nuclear weapons.
Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA terminated roughly 419 probationary employees.
The agency said it has notified all of the affected employees of their reinstatement. Most of the 419 workers have been put on paid leave, though some (“including students on leave for the school year”) are on unpaid leave.
Created in 1970, the EPA is responsible for enforcing environmental laws. The agency says it makes sure Americans have clean air, water, and land.
General Services Administration
The GSA has terminated roughly 366 of approximately 812 probationary and trial employees.
By Monday morning, the GSA said it had reinstated all employees, minus two who declined to return to work.
Often called the federal government’s landlord, the GSA helps the federal government manage contracting for goods and services.
Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security terminated at least 313 probationary employees. The department did not indicate the number of total probationary workers it terminated because it said those fired for performance or conduct issues were not covered by the order.
DHS said it has begun the process of reinstating more than 310 workers. One employee declined to return, while another worker was already in the process of coming back due to a deferred resignation program.
Since 2001, DHS has grown to become the third-largest Cabinet agency — it encompasses everything from the Transportation Security Administration and US Customs and Border Protection to the Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Housing and Urban Development
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) terminated 312 of roughly 549 probationary employees.
HUD said it has fully reinstated 13 employees. The department said it has begun the reinstatement process for the remaining workers who are being placed on administrative leave temporarily.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development is responsible for addressing housing policy and enforcing fair housing laws.
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration (SBA) terminated 304 of roughly 700 probationary workers.
The SBA said it quickly rehired six workers, five of which remain with the agency. One employee resigned.
As for the remaining employees, SBA said had notified all 298 workers of their reinstatement. The agency said 127 workers have been reinstated and put on paid leave. Employees who were on intermittent status (164) have been put into non-pay status and will not receive back pay due to their work schedule.
The Small Business Administration is a Cabinet-level agency focused on helping small business owners and entrepreneurs.
US Agency for International Development
USAID terminated 270 of 295 probationary employees.
USAID says it has notified the affected workers of their reinstatement. If they return to work, they will be placed on administrative leave until further notice.
The international aid agency, which had operations worldwide, is different from the other 17 departments and agencies covered by the order in that it has already effectively begun to shut down its operations. USAID previously vacated its DC headquarters. The State Department has absorbed its remaining operations.
There are multiple ongoing lawsuits regarding USAID’s restructuring and effective gutting.
Labor Department
The Department of Labor terminated roughly 170 of approximately 620 probationary and trial employees.
The department said all affected employees have either returned to work or voluntarily left the government.
The Labor Department is responsible for enforcing federal labor laws, which, according to its website, cover over 165 million workers. The department is responsible for publishing closely-watched data on the economy and employment through the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
The FDIC terminated roughly 156 of about 261 probationary employees.
The FDIC said in its filing that five employees would have been terminated regardless due to performance/conduct issues. The remaining 151 employees have been reinstated and placed on administrative leave.
The FDIC is an independent federal agency funded primarily by fees banks pay. It is primarily known for insuring bank deposits, which is part of its mission to maintain the financial system’s stability.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The CFPB terminated 117 probationary employees.
The CFPB has reinstated all of the affected employees who are now on administrative leave.
The brainchild of Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a Democrat, the CFPB is a consumer watchdog. The agency has shut down its DC headquarters amid a Trump administration move to end its operations. Musk previously called for the CFPB to be deleted.
Education Department
The Department of Education terminated 65 of roughly 108 probationary employees.
The department has processed reinstatements for the employees. They will be put on administrative leave.
Created in 1980, the Education Department administers state and local education programs. Trump and Secretary Linda McMahon have outlined a plan to shut down the department.