Over 1,100 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees have been notified this week that they are on probationary status and could face immediate termination, as per an email obtained by sources. These probationary employees, who have been with the agency for less than a year, began receiving emails late Wednesday afternoon, according to an EPA union official.
The White House has indicated that a similar message will be sent to other agency workforces, with over 220,000 employees across the US government currently on probation. The email to probationary employees cites the agency's right to terminate them immediately under 5 CFR § 315.804, with the termination process involving a notice of termination and immediate employment termination.
Each employee's status will be assessed individually, and an appeals process is outlined in the email for those seeking additional protection. The approach mirrors how Elon Musk handled layoffs at Twitter, utilizing a new email alias for mass termination notifications.
While the US Office of Personnel Management, White House, and EPA have not provided additional comments, the EPA union official emphasized that probationary employees have fewer protections than tenured employees but can appeal terminations. The union is assisting probationary employees in understanding their rights and potential responses to the emails.
These developments follow a mass email from the Office of Personnel Management to federal workers offering a 'deferred resignation' program, ensuring payment through September 30 for those who opt-in. The email warned of uncertainties for those not participating in the program regarding their positions and agency moving forward.
Marie Owens Powell, president of American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, expressed concerns about morale at the EPA, describing it as the worst she has seen. The potential mass layoffs of probationary employees could disproportionately affect younger workers, impacting efforts to attract and retain young talent in public service.
Rob Shriver, acting director of OPM under President Joe Biden, highlighted the risk of undoing progress in hiring younger individuals if these layoffs proceed. The situation has created anxiety among EPA employees, with ongoing uncertainty about their job security and future within the agency.
