You've probably heard the rumors. Or maybe you saw a screaming headline about "mass firings" at the White House. But if you're trying to pin down a single, solid number for how many people has Trump fired so far, things get messy real fast.
It’s not just a list of names. It’s a total overhaul.
Since returning to the Oval Office in January 2025, Donald Trump hasn't just been firing people in the "You're Fired!" reality TV sense. He’s been dismantling entire tiers of the federal government. We’re talking about a mix of high-profile cabinet ousters, "Schedule F" reclassifications, and a massive wave of forced resignations driven by the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The Raw Numbers: Who’s Actually Gone?
Let's look at the data. Honestly, it’s staggering.
According to recent reports from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Partnership for Public Service, about 335,000 federal workers left the government between January 2025 and November 2025.
Now, wait. Does that mean Trump personally fired 300,000 people? No.
Only about 11,000 were formal, "hard" layoffs. The rest? A massive chunk—roughly 154,000 people—took a "deferred resignation" deal. Basically, the administration offered them a "leave now or face the consequences" buyout. Another huge segment simply retired early or quit because they didn't want to deal with the new remote-work bans or the relocation orders to places like Wichita or Des Moines.
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High-Profile Firings and Ousters
If you’re looking for the names you recognize, the list is shorter but arguably more explosive. Trump has been aggressive about removing anyone he deems part of the "Deep State" or simply "disloyal."
- Billy Long: The IRS Commissioner was shown the door in August 2025.
- Susan Monarez: The CDC Director was fired the same month.
- Robert Primus: A member of the Surface Transportation Board who actually sued for wrongful termination after being booted.
- Erika McEntarfer: The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics was let go on August 1, 2025.
It’s a pattern. If you were appointed by Biden—or even if you were a Trump appointee who didn't "toe the line"—your seat has been on fire for the last year.
How Many People Has Trump Fired So Far via "Schedule F"?
This is the wonky part that actually matters. On January 28, 2025, Trump signed an executive order to bring back Schedule F.
What is it? It’s a way to reclassify tens of thousands of career civil servants—people who usually have job protections—as "at-will" employees. Basically, it turns a professional scientist or data analyst into someone who can be fired as easily as a political intern.
Experts estimate that this order put up to 50,000 workers in the crosshairs. While they haven't all been fired yet, the threat alone has caused a "brain drain" that D.C. hasn't seen in decades.
The DOGE Effect: Musk, Ramaswamy, and the Chainsaw
You can’t talk about these numbers without mentioning Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Their Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been the primary engine behind the cuts.
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They aren't just firing individuals; they’re trying to delete agencies.
Take USAID. Reports indicate that through a mix of rescissions and layoffs, nearly the entire workforce was wiped out in 2025. The Education Department saw a 40% reduction in staff. FEMA is currently bracing for plans to cut thousands more in early 2026.
It’s brutal.
One day you're a tax examiner at the Treasury (which lost about 26% of its staff), and the next, your department is being "consolidated" into a digital-only portal managed by a skeleton crew.
Is This Even Legal?
Short answer: It’s being fought in court every single day.
Groups like CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) have filed dozens of lawsuits. They argue that firing people like Inspectors General without the required 30-day notice to Congress is a direct violation of the law.
But the administration’s stance is simple: The President has the "unitary" power to manage the executive branch. If they want someone gone, they’re gone. The courts are moving slowly, but the pink slips are moving fast.
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Where the Cuts Hit Hardest
| Agency | Estimated Workforce Loss (2025) |
|---|---|
| Department of Education | 40% |
| Treasury (Tax Examiners) | 26% |
| Social Security (IT Management) | 25%+ |
| USAID | Nearly 90% |
| Agriculture (Food Inspectors) | 33% |
Why These Numbers Matter to You
You might think, "Who cares if there are fewer bureaucrats in D.C.?"
Well, it hits home when your tax refund takes eight months because 4,000 tax examiners are gone. Or when food safety inspections lag because a third of the USDA’s inspectors quit or were fired.
The question of how many people has Trump fired so far isn't just a political scorecard. It's a metric of how the basic functions of the U.S. government are changing—or stopping altogether.
Actionable Insights: Navigating the 2026 Shift
If you’re a federal contractor or someone whose business relies on government agencies, the landscape has shifted. Here is how to handle it:
- Diversify your portfolio: If your main point of contact at an agency was "reorganized" out of a job, don't wait for them to be replaced. Those roles are often staying empty.
- Watch the Court Rulings: Keep an eye on the "Schedule F" lawsuits. If the courts strike it down, we could see a massive wave of reinstatements (and back-pay chaos).
- Expect Delays: From passport renewals to small business loans, the "skeleton crew" reality is the new normal for 2026. Build extra time into every interaction with the federal government.
The "Great Purge" of 2025 may have slowed down, but the restructuring of 2026 is just getting started. Whether you see it as a "drain the swamp" success or a "bonfire of expertise," the numbers don't lie: the federal workforce is smaller than it has been in half a century.