In a recent court document revealed by Bloomberg Law, Treasury’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Trevor Norris announced that the department is in the process of developing strategies to adhere to President Donald Trump’s executive order mandating Musk’s workforce reduction.
Norris explained that the plans will be customized for each department and may involve the termination of a significant number of employees. The layoffs will be conducted based on seniority, which means that probationary employees will be more affected than others. The Treasury currently employs over 100,000 individuals.
This court filing is linked to Maryland’s legal action against the Department of Agriculture, which led to a temporary injunction against the Trump administration’s dismissal of probationary employees throughout the federal government.
The document also provides an update on the reinstatement of probationary employees who were terminated as part of Musk’s initiative.
Norris disclosed that out of the 7,611 probationary employees terminated within the Treasury, all but 51 have been rehired as of the recent Tuesday. The 51 individuals who did not return chose to do so voluntarily.
Lori Michalski, the Chief Human Capital Officer at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), reported that 312 probationary employees were initially terminated, with 13 having been rehired, eight declining reinstatement, and 296 in the process of being reinstated following HUD’s initiation.
Adam Martinez, the acting Chief Human Capital Officer at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), stated that CFPB let go of 117 probationary employees, of which two have secured new employment. The remaining individuals are currently undergoing the reinstatement process.
This lawsuit is part of a series of legal challenges against the Trump administration concerning Musk’s workforce reduction and the unilateral termination of funding for various departments and grants within the federal government.