Summary
Trump reversed his directive to fire thousands of probationary (newly-hired) federal employees after a judge ruled the mass terminations were likely illegal.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) clarified that agencies are not required to comply with previous instructions to fire employees who have held their jobs for a year or less. Instead, agencies have until September 13 to develop their own staffing reduction plans.
Some agencies, like the National Science Foundation (NSF), are now rehiring previously fired employees.
Federal labor unions have sued, arguing the firings violated procedural rules and congressional authority. The administration’s sudden reversal still leaves uncertainty about affected workers’ status.
No doubt. I recently left corporate America (giant global orgs) after almost 30 years. I was involved in these bullshit fire drills with increasing frequency through most of my career. Without fail, they provide short term illusion of savings at the expense of higher long term costs and pain. These people always forget that a lot of smart people put a lot of effort into the existing systems, orgs, etc.
Not to mention every ladder-climbing prick who changes positions in those orgs’ mid to upper levels has to make some big splash in their new role, so they can scheme their way to the next one. AKA each of these decision-making dickheads are incentivized to blow shit up with each new role, and with the express intention of not being there when the chickens come to roost. Seen it quite often, firsthand.
Such an idiotic way to run the biggest coordinations of human effort on the planet, but HEY what the fuck do I know? Stolid, predictable leadership with a commitment to improving outcomes for all stakeholders? Wouldn’t that mean shareholders would do a little less well? Those gaudy yachts and mansions don’t buy themselves…