Latest Federal Government Agency RIFs

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Latest Federal Government Agency RIFs

As of April 14, 2025, the U.S. federal government is undergoing significant reductions in force (RIFs), affecting tens of thousands of employees across multiple agencies. These actions are part of a broader initiative under President Trump’s administration, aimed at downsizing the federal workforce through reorganizations, layoffs, and voluntary separation programs.​Wikipedia+2U.S. Office of Personnel Management+2Federal News Network+2Business Insider+1Wikipedia+1

Key Developments

  • Executive Orders and Agency Plans: In February, agencies were instructed to prepare reorganization plans leading to wide-scale RIFs, with initial versions due by March 13 and implementations anticipated to begin in the May-June timeframe. ​Federal News Network+5FedWeek+5Wikipedia+5
  • Voluntary Separation Programs: The IRS, among other agencies, has offered employees options to voluntarily leave their positions through deferred resignation or buyouts, warning that those who do not opt in may face termination due to upcoming RIFs. Business Insider
  • Legal Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court recently halted a federal judge’s order that mandated the reinstatement of thousands of fired probationary federal employees, affecting departments such as Defense and Veterans Affairs. Reuters
  • Impact on Agencies: The Department of Defense plans to issue RIFs affecting 5% to 8% of its civilian workforce, potentially impacting up to 61,000 employees. Similarly, the Department of Education has already laid off about one-third of its workforce.​Government Executive
  • Employee Reactions: Federal employees have expressed distress over the layoffs, with some describing the process as devastating and highlighting the human cost of these actions. ​Reuters+3Business Insider+3Wikipedia+3

 

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Here Are Some Recent Top Financial Headlines 

S&P 500 Approaches 5,000 Amid Strong Earnings and Economic Growth

The S&P 500 is nearing the 5,000-point milestone, driven by robust earnings and a stable bond market. This surge reflects U.S. economic growth exceeding 3%, unemployment below 4%, and annual profit growth over 8%.

Federal Reserve and European Central Bank Meetings in Focus

Major central banks, including the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, are convening to discuss monetary policies. Investors are keenly observing these meetings for insights into potential interest rate adjustments and economic forecasts.

Russian Ruble Declines Past 100 per U.S. Dollar

The Russian ruble has depreciated beyond 100 per U.S. dollar. President Vladimir Putin’s economic advisor attributes this decline to loose monetary policy, emphasizing Russia’s interest in a strong ruble.

China’s Securities Regulator Eases Stock Trading Restrictions

China’s securities regulator is allowing mutual fund managers to sell more shares than they buy each day, lifting a ban introduced late last year aimed at supporting the stock market. This move is part of broader efforts to stabilize and invigorate China’s financial markets.

Sources:

Reuters

CNN Money

With RIFS Imminent, the Small Business Administration Re-offers Deferred Resignation Program 

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With RIFS Imminent, the Small Business Administration Re-offers Deferred Resignation Program 

SBA employees have until April 7 to decide again whether to take the “Fork in the Road.”

Small Business Administration employees received an email early Saturday morning from the agency’s chief human capital office offering them a second opportunity to accept the deferred-resignation deal first offered by the Office of Personnel Management to all federal employees from Jan. 28 to Feb. 12.

The offer follows the unveiling of an agencywide reorganization that will soon eliminate 2,700 of its active workforce of 6,500 employees — a 43% reduction in staff the agency estimates will save $435 million. Follow link to read more from Government Executive. https://bit.ly/3RtBG9S

 

Black Americans Describe How Being a Federal Worker Was Their Path to the Middle Class — and the Heartbreak of Losing It

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Black Americans Describe How Being a Federal Worker Was Their Path to the Middle Class — and the Heartbreak of Losing It

Trump’s DEI scrutiny and workforce reductions threaten to upend the American dream for Black workers who achieved middle-class prosperity through federal jobs.

  • Black federal workers have historically benefited from stability, good benefits, and less discrimination.
  • Trump’s job cuts and DEI scrutiny, helmed by Elon Musk‘s DOGE office, threaten that security.
  • Five former and current Black federal workers say the upheaval has hurt their finances and optimism for the future.

When BreAntra Jackson started working at the Internal Revenue Service last October, she was excited to have secured a coveted position in the federal government. Follow link to read more from AOL. https://www.aol.com/black-americans-describe-being-federal-081501976.html

Pres. Trump Has Taken Actions to Limit Union Rights For Certain Federal Agencies

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Pres. Trump Has Taken Actions to Limit Union Rights For Certain Federal Agencies

​President Donald Trump has taken actions to limit union rights for certain federal agencies. On March 27, 2025, he signed an executive order ending collective bargaining with federal labor unions in agencies involved in national security. This order affects departments including State, Defense, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Health and Human Services, Treasury, Justice, Commerce, and parts of Homeland Security responsible for border security. The administration stated that this move aims to prevent union activities from hindering national security operations. Unions, such as the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have opposed the order and plan to pursue legal action. 1

Additionally, on March 28, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order revoking collective bargaining rights for most federal employees, citing a provision of federal labor laws that exempts national security-related agencies. This order targets multiple federal departments, including Agriculture, Defense, Health and Human Services, Justice, State, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Transportation Secretary also has the authority to exclude the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other subdivisions from labor rights. This action impacts approximately 67% of the entire federal workforce and 75% of unionized workers, aiming to bring the federal workforce under stricter control of the White House. Federal employee unions plan to contest the order in court, describing it as a retaliatory attack against unions that have challenged Trump’s policies. 2​

These actions build upon previous efforts by the Trump administration to reduce the influence of federal employee unions. In May 2018, President Trump issued executive orders making it easier to fire under-performing federal employees, limiting the amount of official time during which unions could address grievances, and ordering the renegotiation of collective bargaining agreements. While a federal judge initially struck down most of these orders, an appeals court later reinstated them, ruling that challenges must go through the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) rather than federal courts. ​3

These measures have faced significant opposition from federal employee unions and Democratic lawmakers, who argue that they undermine the rights and protections of federal workers and politicize the civil service. Legal challenges are ongoing as unions seek to defend collective bargaining rights and due process protections for federal employees.​

Sources:

  1. ​AP News
  2. Politico
  3. PoliticoNational Federation of Federal Employees+3Politico+3Politico+3Politico