I read that a probationary employee could have been transferred from another department so they may be long time federal employees just in a newer position...
This is very true. Fed and state gov employees often go back and forth through their careers to advance and learn. They call some of them IPA's. My husband did this after holding senior positions in Maryland state gov in the environmental field (resource management, forest ecology, Climate Change, etc.). We wanted to move up here and he worked for US Fish and Wildlife with our national refuges here in hadley, MA. IPA's allowed them to hire someone with experience quickly and then they became permanent employees. So, yes, those sorts of experienced individuals would also be in jeopardy. We have thought of how if this had happened 12 years ago, we would have been in terrible trouble.
As I've stated here before from my husband, a federal employee, ALL fed employers are considered "probationary" their first year. Permanent after that. It is not because they have poor performance records. We just heard today that another person who worked for my husband was laid off today. She was hired 10 months ago and doing a great job. She was only 2 months away from becoming permanent. And also as I've said here before, all these same laid off workers are not allowed access to their own files by OPM (Office of Personnel Management) which includes their pay grade, performance reports, awards, etc. So they cannot access those as they look for new jobs. unless they were smart enough to download their files before being laid off, or had good counsel from their superiors.
Again my husband as being a fed employee has sadly said that they (probationary workers) have no recourse legally that he can see. He says that the Trump/Musk administration has been adept at going for the "soft underbelly" first. Very much ala Steve Bannon. And my husband is not someone who exaggerates.
This is almost 1/5 of the entire IHS staff. It is not difficult to imagine the impact this will have on a population already at an increased risk for adverse health outcomes.
According to somebody whom I trust with inside knowledge of the Indian Health Service: in addition to harming health care on reservations, some of the best jobs on most reservations are with IHS, so the impact of IHS layoffs on the community will be severe.
My friend says, "Getting laid off is more than the tribes losing their medical services. It would perpetuate the cycles of poverty that burdened the tribe for generations."
My friend also says it is a major misconception that casinos have made most tribes wealthy. Only about 5% of tribal casinos make enough money to share it with the rest of the tribe; most of these casinos basically cover their operating costs and provide some jobs.
The profitable casinos are mostly the ones near cities; most of them are far from any population centers.
My friend says, "I cannot stress enough what a time of angst this is for our Tribal Nations and those of us making careers of serving our Tribal Nations."
And my friend says:
"The average per capita expenditure on health care in the United States is about $9400 per year.
The average per capita expenditure on health care in most state prison systems is $5800 per year.
The average per capita expenditure in the Indian Health Service?
The nose of every Trump supporter should get a bit longer every time they utter the words "pro-life."
How is this legal? Is there any action we can take, other than calling Congress?
I don't know but I think it has to do with the "probationary" status of newer (mostly younger but not always) employees.
I read that a probationary employee could have been transferred from another department so they may be long time federal employees just in a newer position...
This is very true. Fed and state gov employees often go back and forth through their careers to advance and learn. They call some of them IPA's. My husband did this after holding senior positions in Maryland state gov in the environmental field (resource management, forest ecology, Climate Change, etc.). We wanted to move up here and he worked for US Fish and Wildlife with our national refuges here in hadley, MA. IPA's allowed them to hire someone with experience quickly and then they became permanent employees. So, yes, those sorts of experienced individuals would also be in jeopardy. We have thought of how if this had happened 12 years ago, we would have been in terrible trouble.
As I've stated here before from my husband, a federal employee, ALL fed employers are considered "probationary" their first year. Permanent after that. It is not because they have poor performance records. We just heard today that another person who worked for my husband was laid off today. She was hired 10 months ago and doing a great job. She was only 2 months away from becoming permanent. And also as I've said here before, all these same laid off workers are not allowed access to their own files by OPM (Office of Personnel Management) which includes their pay grade, performance reports, awards, etc. So they cannot access those as they look for new jobs. unless they were smart enough to download their files before being laid off, or had good counsel from their superiors.
Again my husband as being a fed employee has sadly said that they (probationary workers) have no recourse legally that he can see. He says that the Trump/Musk administration has been adept at going for the "soft underbelly" first. Very much ala Steve Bannon. And my husband is not someone who exaggerates.
I’m reading that they’re firing probationary employees throughout the federal government. https://www.npr.org/2025/02/13/nx-s1-5296928/layoffs-trump-doge-education-energy
These probationary personnel firings are all shockingly unnecessary and counterproductive. This one is hurtful as well.
I used to joke that “they’re trying to kill us.”
Now I believe it‼️
This is almost 1/5 of the entire IHS staff. It is not difficult to imagine the impact this will have on a population already at an increased risk for adverse health outcomes.
Heartbreaking and not just for the people they serve, but the people that are laid off have families that depend on them.
💔
According to somebody whom I trust with inside knowledge of the Indian Health Service: in addition to harming health care on reservations, some of the best jobs on most reservations are with IHS, so the impact of IHS layoffs on the community will be severe.
My friend says, "Getting laid off is more than the tribes losing their medical services. It would perpetuate the cycles of poverty that burdened the tribe for generations."
My friend also says it is a major misconception that casinos have made most tribes wealthy. Only about 5% of tribal casinos make enough money to share it with the rest of the tribe; most of these casinos basically cover their operating costs and provide some jobs.
The profitable casinos are mostly the ones near cities; most of them are far from any population centers.
My friend says, "I cannot stress enough what a time of angst this is for our Tribal Nations and those of us making careers of serving our Tribal Nations."
And my friend says:
"The average per capita expenditure on health care in the United States is about $9400 per year.
The average per capita expenditure on health care in most state prison systems is $5800 per year.
The average per capita expenditure in the Indian Health Service?
$3800 per year."
Here's the first legal action filed about this: https://democracyforward.org/updates/federal-workers-file-class-wide-complaint-challenging-mass-terminations-with-office-of-special-counsel/
Horribleness that is the fiasco of a president bought by a billionaire & on the side of pootin.
💔