Interior Department fires 2,300 employees after OPM directive

The Interior Department is firing 2,300 employees after a directive from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

An internal message reviewed by The Hill on Friday indicates the department let go of 2,300 employees who were on probationary status — meaning they started relatively recently.

The Interior Department has a broad mandate, overseeing national parks, tribal affairs, endangered species and conservation of and energy production on federally owned lands and in federal waters.

It’s not immediately clear how many of the now-fired employees worked in any particular program. However, The Washington Post reported the National Park Service was firing 1,000 people but restoring previously rescinded job offers to 5,000 temporary workers.

The move comes after the OPM instructed agency leaders to fire nearly all probationary employees, impacting as many as 200,000 people, as The Hill reported Thursday.

“The probationary period is a continuation of the job application process, not an entitlement for permanent employment,” an OPM spokesperson said in a statement.

“Agencies are taking independent action in light of the recent hiring freeze and in support of the President’s broader efforts to restructure and streamline the federal government to better serve the American people at the highest possible standard.”

The Interior Department did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.

The move to fire the 2,300 people met pushback from environmental advocates.

“Firing the next generation of America’s park rangers, scientists, and land managers is a recipe for literal disaster,” said Aaron Weiss, deputy director of the Center for Western Priorities, in a statement.

“I don’t know whether we’ll see overflowing latrines, polluted streams, or deadly wildfires first, but [Interior Secretary] Doug Burgum is already leaving a path of destruction across America’s parks and public lands,” he added.

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