Treasury planning to lay off ‘substantial number’ of employees

SUMMARY

The U.S. Treasury Department disclosed plans to lay off a significant portion of its workforce, aligning with President Donald Trump’s February executive order to reduce federal employee numbers through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Chief Human Capital Officer Trevor Norris, in a court filing, stated that these reductions in force (RIFs) will target bureaus variably, with reinstated probationary employees—recently ordered back by the Merit Systems Protection Board after the dismissal of approximately 6,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture workers—likely facing re-termination due to seniority rules. Norris noted that restoring some to full duties could disrupt operations ahead of planned cuts. The Treasury, overseeing 100,000 employees across entities like the IRS and U.S. Mint, did not specify a precise figure for the layoffs. This follows a broader trend, with agencies such as Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration also signaling staff reductions.