The White House has directed federal agencies to submit lists of probationary employees by Friday and assess their retention, according to a memo from Acting OPM Director Charles Ezell. Employees with one to two years of service can be terminated without appeal rights.
President Trump aims to reform the federal workforce by reducing bureaucracy and regulatory efforts. On Monday, he mandated federal workers return to the office five days a week and weakened job protections for civil servants.
In a separate directive, agencies were instructed to rescind most job offers for positions starting after February 8, implement a hiring freeze, and remove most listings from government job boards. Exceptions include roles in immigration enforcement, national security, public safety, the military, and the U.S. Postal Service.
OPM may grant additional exemptions for critical functions like Social Security and veterans’ benefits. Agencies must submit monthly reports on job offers, resignations, and workforce statistics. The White House declined to comment.
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