Trump administration mandates compilation of underperforming federal employees

The Trump administration has ordered all federal departments and agencies to provide lists of their lowest-performing employees, potentially signaling mass job terminations. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has requested the names of employees who received less than a “fully successful” performance rating in the past three years. The administration has also asked departments to identify barriers to swiftly terminating poor performers. President Trump has ordered a freeze on federal hiring and offered buyouts to reduce the federal workforce. Federal employees who do not accept a buyout offer could be furloughed and face downsizing. Unions have challenged the legality of the program, with a federal judge temporarily blocking buyouts to allow for litigation. The original deadline to accept buyouts has been delayed. Trump’s plan, known as “Fork in the Road,” is part of efforts to dismantle the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk. Federal employees who want to stay in the workforce must meet new performance standards and demonstrate reliability, loyalty, and trustworthiness. About 60,000 federal workers have accepted buyouts, representing 2.6% of the workforce. The White House’s goal was to target 5% to 10% of the workforce.