Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration has come under scrutiny as dozens of probationary employees at the Department of Transportation (DOT) have been terminated for poor performance, despite being rated as “exceptional” by their supervisors. The news, first reported by NBC News, has raised questions about the fairness and transparency of the federal workforce restructuring efforts.
The affected employees received letters citing performance issues as the reason for their dismissal. However, internal documents and supervisor reviews obtained by NBC News revealed that most of these employees were rated as “exceptional” performers. One review stated, “Employee has demonstrated exceptional performance and has no conduct issues,” echoing the sentiments of many similar evaluations.
A source within the DOT expressed dismay over the firings, stating, “These letters that we’re sending these employees, I feel so bad because they’re lying. All of them, pretty much, were exceptional performers. It’s just crazy to me.”
The firings are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to restructure and streamline the federal workforce. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently directed federal agencies to dismiss probationary employees, a move that could impact hundreds of thousands of workers. Probationary status typically applies to employees who have been with the federal government for less than two years.
The letters from the DOT stated, “The U.S. Department of Transportation finds, that based on your performance you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Department of Transportation would be in the public interest. For this reason, the Department of Transportation is removing you from your position with the Department of Transportation and the federal civil service effective today.”
Neither the Department of Transportation nor the White House responded to requests for comment. McLaurine Pinover, an OPM spokesperson, deferred to the Department of Transportation and stated that the administration would not be able to provide full details on the number of probationary employees terminated across the government until Tuesday.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) condemned the move, with AFGE President Everett Kelley stating, “The administration has abused the probationary period to conduct a politically driven mass firing spree, targeting employees not because of performance, but because they were hired before Trump took office. These firings are not about poor performance — there is no evidence these employees were anything but dedicated public servants. They are about power. They are about gutting the federal government, silencing workers, and forcing agencies into submission to a radical agenda that prioritizes cronyism over competence.”
Kelley continued, “Despite OPM’s guidance earlier this week advising agencies not to engage in sweeping terminations, the administration has plowed forward. Employees were given no notice, no due process, and no opportunity to defend themselves in a blatant violation of the principles of fairness and merit that are supposed to govern federal employment. Agencies have spent years recruiting and developing the next generation of public servants. By firing them en masse, this administration is throwing away the very talent that agencies need to function effectively in the years ahead. AFGE will fight these firings every step of the way. We will stand with every impacted employee, pursue every legal challenge available, and hold this administration accountable for its reckless actions. Federal employees are not disposable, and we will not allow the government to treat them as such.”
The full extent of the firings remains unclear, but the Trump administration’s aim to cut up to 10% of the federal workforce has led to significant upheaval within various federal agencies.
[With inputs from agencies]
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