Fact Check: "Tens of thousands of federal employees fired under Trump administration chaos."
What We Know
The claim that "tens of thousands of federal employees were fired under Trump administration chaos" lacks substantial evidence. During Donald Trump's presidency, there were significant discussions and controversies regarding federal employment, particularly related to the implementation of the "Schedule F" executive order, which aimed to change the classification of certain federal employees to make it easier to terminate them. However, the actual number of federal employees who were fired or laid off during Trump's tenure does not support the claim of "tens of thousands."
According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal workforce saw fluctuations, but the total number of federal employees remained relatively stable, with only a few thousand separations attributed to firings each year. For instance, the average annual separation rate for federal employees is around 5% of the workforce, which translates to approximately 100,000 separations annually, but this includes retirements, resignations, and other forms of separation, not just firings.
Analysis
The assertion that "tens of thousands" of federal employees were fired is misleading. While there were instances of firings and resignations during Trump's presidency, the numbers do not reach the tens of thousands threshold. Reports indicate that the total number of federal employees decreased by about 3,000 from 2016 to 2020, which is a small fraction of the total federal workforce of over 2 million employees.
Moreover, the sources that support the claim often lack rigorous data or rely on anecdotal evidence rather than comprehensive statistics. For example, while some media outlets reported on firings related to the Schedule F initiative, they did not provide concrete numbers that would substantiate the claim of "tens of thousands" being fired. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) and other oversight bodies have not reported findings that align with such high figures.
In evaluating the credibility of sources making this claim, it is essential to consider the context and potential biases. Many narratives surrounding federal employment during the Trump administration were politically charged, and some sources may exaggerate figures for dramatic effect. Reliable data from government agencies like the OPM and GAO tends to provide a more accurate picture of federal employment trends.
Conclusion
Verdict: False. The claim that "tens of thousands of federal employees were fired under Trump administration chaos" is not supported by credible evidence. The actual number of firings during Trump's presidency was significantly lower than the claim suggests, and the overall federal workforce remained stable. The narrative surrounding mass firings appears to be exaggerated and lacks substantiation from reliable sources.
