In recent months, many federal workers have found themselves jobless due to mass layoffs initiated by the Trump administration. These layoffs particularly targeted probationary employees, individuals who have held their positions for less than two years. One such story is that of Corinne Bazarnyj, a disabled veteran who lost her job at the Department of Veterans Affairs just after a few months of service. Despite her expertise, Bazarnyj has been left in limbo as she waits for approval of her unemployment benefits, a situation that reflects the broader challenges faced by many former federal employees.
Bazarnyj received a termination letter stating her dismissal was due to performance issues. However, she argues that this is misleading since she was not on the job long enough to have undergone a performance evaluation. In Maryland, where she resides, the unemployment agency has required documentation to process her case, which has resulted in a prolonged wait.
The situation has been worsened by the evolving policy changes under the Trump administration, which have emphasized a rapid downsizing of the federal workforce. Many state unemployment offices, overwhelmed with claims due to these mass firings, are struggling to keep up with demand, contributing further to delays in processing.
The White House’s abrupt workforce reductions have not only affected the employees who were terminated, but they have also put a strain on state unemployment resources, causing bureaucratic bottlenecks. The Merit Systems Protection Board recently reinstated six employees, who were also victims of these performance allegations, indicating that many terminations were likely unlawful.
Claims for unemployment benefits from laid-off federal workers have surged; initial claims in Washington, D.C., rose dramatically after Trump’s inauguration. For example, claims jumped to over 550 in mid-February from almost none earlier that month. The situation has prompted a bipartisan coalition of 20 states to sue the federal government, seeking a halt to further layoffs and the reinstatement of affected employees while litigation is underway.
It is critical for those terminated to navigate this obtuse system properly. They are advised to file for unemployment benefits immediately upon losing their job, even if they are uncertain of the outcome. They must provide specific documents that verify their employment history and reasons for separation, a process complicated by the lack of federal wage records readily available to state offices.
Experts underscore the importance of patience during this period, as benefits may take weeks to obtain due to the influx of claims and additional scrutiny required for performance-related dismissals. For many, the wait is stressful and exacerbates what is already a precarious financial situation.
As state agencies have begun to implement systems for assisting these former federal employees, the impact of the Trump administration’s policies continues to resonate through the unemployment landscape of the nation. As more claims are expected to be filed, the need for state and federal coordination becomes more urgent than ever, underlining the profound effects of job policies on everyday people.