The recent workforce reductions initiated by President Donald Trump and top White House official Elon Musk have primarily targeted probationary employees across various federal departments. These employees, typically hired within the last 12 months, lack the same bargaining rights as career employees, making it easier to terminate their employment.

The cuts have impacted multiple government agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Education, the Small Business Administration, and the agency responsible for managing the nation’s nuclear weapons fleet.

On Thursday, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it had laid off over 1,000 of its approximately 43,000 probationary employees, estimating savings of around $98 million. Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins stated, “This was a tough decision, but ultimately it’s the right call to better support the Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors the department exists to serve.”

The U.S. Forest Service also saw significant reductions, with nearly 10% of its 35,000 employees affected. However, critical roles such as meteorologists, firefighters, police officers, and bridge inspectors were reportedly spared from the layoffs.

These sweeping cuts come as part of broader efforts by the Trump administration and Musk to streamline the federal workforce. The focus on probationary employees highlights the administration’s strategy to reduce costs and increase efficiency, though it has sparked concerns about the impact on government operations and employee morale.