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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is firing nearly 7,000 probationary workers nationwide beginning Thursday.
The layoffs include workers employed for one year or less, including about 7 percent of the agency’s workforce.
“The cuts are part of President Donald Trump’s radical downsizing effort that has targeted bank regulators, forest workers, rocket scientists and tens of thousands of other government employees,” Reuters reported.
“The effort is being led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, Trump’s biggest campaign donor,” it added.
An email obtained by Government Executive read: “Under an executive order, IRS has been directed to terminate probationary employees who were not deemed as critical to filing season.”
Another email addressed to employees said: “We understand that coming in on short notice may be an inconvenience, and we truly appreciate your flexibility.”
The information follows reports that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) held meetings with agency leaders earlier this month directing them to fire probationary employees.
“The probationary period is a continuation of the job application process, not an entitlement for permanent employment. Agencies are taking independent action in light of the recent hiring freeze and in support of the President’s broader efforts to restructure and streamline the federal government to better serve the American people at the highest possible standard,” an OPM spokesperson said in a statement.
Earlier this week, Trump also instructed the Justice Department to fire all remaining “Biden-era” U.S. attorneys.
Trump announced the firings on Tuesday in a post to his Truth Social account.
“Over the past four years, the Department of Justice has been politicized like never before. Therefore, I have instructed the termination of ALL remaining ‘Biden Era’ U.S. Attorneys,” Trump wrote.
“We must ‘clean house’ IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence. America’s Golden Age must have a fair Justice System – THAT BEGINS TODAY!” he added.
The news comes as the White House announced last week that over 75,000 federal workers accepted a buyout offer by the Trump administration’s deadline.
The White House Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent the offer to employees last month, allowing pay and benefits through September if they agreed to leave their jobs by Feb. 6, a date later delayed by courts.