Appeals from fired federal workers have skyrocketed more than 2,100% at one watchdog since Trump and DOGE took charge

U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen speaks behind a podium with a blue and yellow sign that says, "Evict DOGE from OPM now!" (Credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

• The Merit System Protections Board, an independent agency overseeing the fairness of federal employment, has seen an avalanche of petitions following President Donald Trump’s orders to cull the federal workforce. Fired federal workers said they were fired for performance reasons, despite overwhelmingly positive performance reviews. Allegations of poor performance mean fired probationary employees won’t get severance pay, and it will likely be harder for them to be rehired for public sector jobs.

A major government employment watchdog overseeing the fairness of agency firings has been flooded with claims following President Donald Trump’s purge of federal workers.