Few details were clear about how the sweeping cuts will be carried out, as the Trump administration prepared to work with agencies and DOGE to finalize plans.

Widespread confusion and fear rippled through the federal workforce Thursday as federal agencies faced a key deadline in President Donald Trump’s push to drastically downsize the government.

The Trump administration is expected on Friday to move ahead with a second wave of mass firings and budget cuts across the U.S. federal government after agencies were told to submit large-scale downsizing plans.

Thursday's deadline for federal agencies to submit plans for large-scale layoffs kicks off a new phase in the dramatic restructuring of how the government operates. Here's what that looks like.