Even as the Trump administration continues to slash federal jobs, a number of federal agencies have begun to reverse course — reinstating some workers and pausing plans to dismiss others, sometimes within days of the firings.
Note: Some dates on the chart are approximate, based on available information.
The Office of Personnel Management on Tuesday revised earlier guidance calling for probationary workers to be terminated, adding a disclaimer that agencies would have the final authority over personnel actions. It is unclear how many more workers could be reinstated as a result.
Here’s a look at some of the back-and-forths so far:
Rehiring Some Essential Workers
Trump-appointed officials fired, then scrambled to rehire some employees in critical jobs in health and national security.
Workers reviewing food safety and medical devices
Around Feb. 15 The Food and Drug Administration fired about 700 probationary employees, many of whom were not paid through taxpayer money.
Workers involved in bird flu response
Around Feb. 14 The Department of Agriculture continued plans to fire thousands of employees, including hundreds in a plant and animal inspection program.
Days later The agency said it was trying to reverse the firings of some employees involved in responding to the nation’s growing bird flu outbreak.
Workers who maintain the U.S. nuclear arsenal
Feb. 13 The Energy Department began laying off 1,000 of its probationary employees, including more than 300 who worked at the National Nuclear Security Administration, which maintains and secures the country’s nuclear warheads. A spokesperson for the Energy Department disputed that number, saying fewer than 50 at the N.N.S.A. were fired.
