The Transportation Security Administration this week terminated 243 employees as President Donald Trump moves to slash the size of the federal workforce, according to an agency official.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, TSA terminated personnel due to performance and conduct issues during their probationary period,” spokesperson Robert Langston said in a statement to Bloomberg Government. “The agency is actively working to implement the administration’s priorities in full cooperation with DHS to identify waste and to staff the mission essential positions that best fulfill DHS’ mission.”
Bloomberg Government first reported on the terminations.
Though it’s routine for TSA to terminate probationary employees for poor performance or conduct, the cuts add to growing concern about the impacts of layoffs at federal agencies focused on national security or public safety — including the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The TSA terminations build upon layoffs DHS did last week to slash more than 400 positions, including more than 200 at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and others at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and additional units.
Homeland Security Axes Hundreds in Trump Federal Workforce Cuts
Sen. Gary Peters (Mich.), the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said he spoke “at length” with Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday to understand the impact of cuts across DHS and is awaiting more information from her.
(Updates with further reporting throughout.)
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