The US employment laws regarding termination and at-will employment are complex. Generally, an employee can be fired without cause as long as it’s done within a specific timeframe, known as the “at-will” period.
However, the President of the United States has a different relationship with their employees compared to private sector workers. According to federal law, the President and other high-ranking officials are considered “civil service” employees.
This means that they cannot be fired for cause without going through a formal process involving the White House Personnel Office and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The OPM has rules in place to ensure that these officials are protected from unfair or retaliatory termination.
While Trump’s administration has faced criticism over its handling of employee firings, including the sudden resignation of several high-ranking officials, it remains unclear whether he can unilaterally fire employees at will without following established procedures.
Source: https://www.economist.com/in-brief/2025/02/17/can-trump-fire-at-will