Job protections | Federal workforce anticipates large-scale upheaval from incoming Trump administration

Federal workforce anticipates large-scale upheaval from incoming Trump administration

Concerns are mounting within the US federal workforce as former President Donald Trump’s incoming administration prepares for potential sweeping changes.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy have been appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), focused on cutting costs and streamlining operations.

Unions and government watchdogs warn that plans to slash federal employees and impose spending reductions could have significant consequences for government operations and local economies.

The Trump administration aims to revive the controversial "Schedule F" policy, which would reclassify some federal positions and strip employees of traditional job protections. Musk has floated the idea of reducing federal expenditures by $2 trillion, exceeding the entire annual discretionary budget, while Ramaswamy proposed halving the federal workforce using a method as stark as firing employees based on their Social Security number ending in an odd number.

Resistance to Trump proposals

The federal workforce, encompassing over two million civilian employees, spans the nation and serves as a critical economic driver, particularly in regions like southern Oklahoma and northern Alabama, areas represented predominantly by Republican lawmakers. The proposals are likely to face resistance from unions, constitutional challenges, and even some members of Congress.

Steve Lenkart, executive director of the National Federation of Federal Employees, expressed skepticism about the plans. "They’re going to come up against congressional mandates and constitutional checks. It will spark debates over who controls federal spending and hiring," he said.

The largest federal employee union, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing 750,000 workers, is preparing for legal challenges and lobbying efforts. Jacqueline Simon, AFGE’s policy director, said Congress must defend its authority over appropriations and resist any attempt to undermine workforce protections.

Federal employee advocates worry the panel led by Musk and Ramaswamy may prioritize ideological cuts over efficiency.

"Congress has an oversight role to ensure government agencies serve the public interest, not political agendas," said Joe Spielberger from the Project on Government Oversight.

"A guardrail, not a guarantee"

Some lawmakers and watchdogs point to a Biden-era rule strengthening job protections for federal employees as a potential safeguard, but its permanence remains uncertain. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia cautioned, "These protections are a guardrail, not a guarantee.”

Despite Republican-led spending curbs in recent years, the GOP-controlled House has shown little appetite for reducing federal employment in key agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, which employs nearly half a million civilians. Observers question whether Congress will support or resist Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal workforce.

Union leader Lilas Soukup, representing employees from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Energy, highlighted the stakes. "Without checks and balances, the risk of turning the federal civil service into a political spoils system is real," she warned.

The impact of any federal workforce cuts, particularly under the guidance of figures like Musk, remains uncertain, but unions and advocates are gearing up for what could be a pivotal battle over the future of government operations with employees and HR departments facing the fallout.

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