Since Trump took office last January, the federal workforce has declined by about 355,000 employees, with 18,000 workers leaving the federal workforce in March 2026. Because the role was considered probationary, the job was soon cut once Trump took office. “I’ve applied to over 250 jobs.”Operationally, federal agencies are struggling to keep up with the demand for public services due to the cuts. For a lot of people, this is 20 to 30 years of work.”Another current federal employee said many government workers had stuck around, despite the hostility toward federal workers, because they deeply care about public service. In a statement, Scott Kupor, OPM’s director, said “reshaping the federal workforce is essential to building a government that works for the American people, not the bureaucracy”.

Source: The Guardian April 11, 2026 14:38 UTC