
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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