Federal workers rally in New York to protest reductions in government staff

NEW YORK, USA - FEB. 27, 2025: Federal workers gathered outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York City on Thursday (Feb. 27) to demonstrate support for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), amid ongoing debates over the agency’s role in financial regulation. The administration of US President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies to prepare for widespread layoffs as part of a government reorganization effort. In a memo issued Wednesday, White House Budget Director Russell Vought and Acting Office of Personnel Management Director Charles Ezell instructed agency heads to submit plans for "large-scale reductions in force." The memo described the federal government as "costly, inefficient, and deeply in debt," claiming that taxpayer money is being used for "unproductive and unnecessary programs" that "benefit radical interest groups while hurting hard-working American citizens." The first phase of agency reorganization plans is due by March 13, focusing on initial staffing cuts, reducing budgets, and consolidating "duplicative" areas. The second phase, due on April 14, will include further workforce reductions and possible relocations of federal offices from Washington, DC to lower-cost regions. The full plan is set to be implemented by the end of September. According to NBC News, thousands of probationary employees have already been dismissed in recent weeks as part of an initiative led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who heads the unofficial cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency team. Some agencies have begun reviewing individual positions to determine whether they are essential, creating internal spreadsheets to categorize employees based on their roles. (Footage by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)