US science agency reclassifies hundreds of workers as probationary, US lawmaker says

Source: Reuters

National Science Foundation administrators reclassified hundreds of employees from permanent to probationary status in violation of labor contracts, according to a U.S. lawmaker and agency employee.

The agency made the change after President Donald Trump took office on January 20 with a sweeping directive aimed at reducing the federal workforce, they said. On that day, the Office of Personnel Management required federal agencies to submit a list of employees who were on probation.

U.S. Representative Don Beyer said that in response to the OPM directive, NSF unilaterally stripped permanent status from both union and non-union workers, including executives, without notification. A form was placed in their personnel files.

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The reclassification exposes these employees to termination without due process, said Beyer, a Democrat who represents the northern Virginia district where NSF is headquartered.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-science-agency-reclassifies-hundreds-workers-probationary-us-lawmaker-says-2025-02-21/