Employees from Michigan to Florida were left reeling from being told that their services were no longer needed.

Here is a look at Trump's actions so far and the legal obstacles he could face in downsizing the 2.3 million-strong civilian federal workforce. WHAT HAS TRUMP DONE SO FAR? Trump on February 11 signed an executive order directing federal agencies to make large-scale personnel reductions and look for ways to eliminate or combine positions.

The Trump administration is firing thousands of federal workers on probationary status, or those without civil service protections.