Interior Ministry Plans to Lay Off 2,000 Employees: Locations Revealed
The Interior Ministry is currently facing a significant restructuring that involves planned layoffs of over 2,000 employees. This move is temporarily halted due to a federal court order, which mandates the disclosure of layoff plans during the ongoing government shutdown.
Details of the Layoff Plans
The planned reductions in force (RIFs) span various bureaus and offices within the Interior Ministry. A federal judge, Susan Illston, has voiced concerns about the legality of these layoffs under the current administration. This court order comes amid a larger context of federal layoffs affecting multiple agencies.
Impacted Agencies and Workforce
Following a recent layoff of around 4,000 personnel across several agencies, additional cuts were expected. Despite prior announcements of impending layoffs, only the Interior Ministry has explicitly outlined its plans as of now.
- Office of the Secretary: Facing the largest cuts with 770 positions eliminated, about 9% of its total workforce.
- Bureau of Land Management: Plans to lay off 474 employees, roughly 5% of its staff, affecting offices in Oregon, California, and more.
- U.S. Geological Survey: Expected to send out RIF notices to 335 workers, also about 5% of its workforce.
- National Park Service: Planning to eliminate 272 positions, which is 2% of its overall workforce.
- Fish and Wildlife Service: Aiming for 143 layoffs, about 2% of its staff.
- Bureau of Reclamation: Set to cut 30 employees in the Pacific Northwest and at the Hoover Dam.
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management: Plans to lay off 12 workers managing offshore projects.
- Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement: Targeting seven layoffs within the Gulf of America Region.
- Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement: Slated to cut seven positions in their planning office.
Context of the Layoff Decisions
While the Interior Ministry confirms that these layoffs are not directly related to the government shutdown, the timing raises questions. The federal judge has expanded the scope of the restraining order to include several unions representing affected employees. This impacts various departments within the ministry as they navigate the complex landscape of workforce reductions.
The layoff notifications were initially planned for mid-October, but the situation remains fluid due to ongoing legal constraints. Stakeholders within the agency await clarifications about the potential impact of these planned RIFs.
This restructuring highlights the challenges faced by federal agencies amid budget constraints and governmental policies. The future of the workforce in these critical areas remains uncertain while the court reviews the legality of the layoffs.
