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The General Services Administration (GSA) is reportedly planning to cut at least 100 tech employees, according to several current GSA employees. These employees, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that supervisors have been informing employees of their impending dismissals. However, official emails have not yet been sent.
Here’s what the article “GSA to cut at least 100 employees, feds inside the agency say” by Natalie Alms reveals about the situation:
- Dismissals primarily affect probationary or new employees Those being let go are either in their probationary periods or are new to their positions, meaning they lack the job protections afforded to more established federal employees.
- The cuts span various programs within Technology Transformation Services (TTS). 18F, GSA’s tech consulting arm, is among the programs affected. A significant number of people within fellowship programs run by TTS, like the U.S. Digital Corps and Presidential Innovation Fellows, are also impacted. It is unclear if other parts of the agency outside of TTS were targeted.
- Demographic impact Two GSA employees told Nextgov/FCW that many of those affected were women and people of color. Some of those set to be let go weren’t new to the government but had moved agencies or jobs within GSA recently.
- Lack of communication and input Supervisors reportedly had no input into who was let go or why, and leadership has not sent any agency-wide communications about the dismissals.
- Potential impact on GSA’s work The dismissals could have ripple effects throughout the government, given GSA’s role in assisting other agencies with various projects. GSA’s tech arm has provided assistance for several government projects, such as the IRS’ Direct File program, which allows people to file online with the tax agency for free. Other work includes helping government programs set up text notifications for people receiving public benefits.
- Trump administration’s workforce reduction efforts The expected cuts align with the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to reduce the government workforce. Within GSA, the agency is reportedly looking to severely cut its own workforce and budget, as well as its building portfolio.
- DOGE and Elon Musk’s influence Billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency are central to these efforts.
- Emphasis on tech and AI In internal meetings at TTS, leadership has stated that there would be more opportunity for tech and automation as the government shrinks. Employees were told that there was going to be a push to use artificial intelligence more at the agency level.
- Criticism of the dismissals Some GSA employees have criticized the dismissals, arguing that they are not consistent with the stated goals of efficiency and better services. One employee stated that the cuts to technical talent are going to hurt the American people.
- GSA’s response A GSA spokesperson stated that the agency is committed to supporting the administration’s initiatives to right-size the federal workforce and is working to meet OPM memo requirements related to probationary periods. GSA also stated that it is committed to ensuring a respectful and dignified process for agency personnel during this transformation.
