CFPB Terminates Dozens of Employees as Trump Administration Targets Probationary Staff

CFPB Terminates Dozens of Employees

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has terminated dozens of employees late Tuesday, an act reported by various media outlets.

According to Reuters, the agency sent termination notices to about 70 probationary employees. This late-night purge is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to dismantle the consumer protection bureau.

Details of the Termination Notices

• Notices were signed by Adam Martinez, CFPB's chief operating officer.
• Notices reportedly lacked employees' personal information, indicating a rushed process.
• Russell Vought, the agency's newly confirmed acting director, ordered staff to cease all supervision and examination activity.

Furthermore, Vought informed employees that the agency's headquarters would be closed for the week, and he would not request the agency's next drawdown from the Federal Reserve.

Context within Federal Workforce Strategy

The recent actions mirror similar strategies at other federal agencies, such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), where employees were similarly instructed to halt work. The emphasis on probationary employees serves as a tactic for the administration to decrease the federal workforce effectively.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has encouraged agencies to consider using the probationary period to eliminate low performers. An OPM spokesperson noted that this approach aligns with the intention behind the probationary period: a continuation of the job application process rather than an assurance of permanent employment.