The American Federal Reduction in Force--Civilian
A lot has been shared elsewhere on the federal layoffs happening in the US Federal Government (See Donald ********* Trump and Elon ******* Musk on the Hell board). I just want to share some things I have overheard coming from different sources---NPR, MSNBC, CBS, CNN and articles--Newsweek, Time, local papers, Reuters, AP, BBC, The Guardian and elsewhere.
First: regarding the size of the workforce. It might surprise you to know that the work force has stayed relatively flat for well over sixty years, around 2 million workers. Even though federal programs have greatly expanded over three generations, much of the workload is handled through computers and other technologies.
Moreover, the total cost of the workforce is about four percent of the federal budget. Trump and Musk are claiming big savings in their cuts, but in the end, it will likely only save 1% of the total budget.
This suggests they are not trimming any fat, but they are cutting to the bone, even scrapping the bones.
They claim they are cutting only the probationary workers, those that have one or two years on the job. Now you might think this would include younger workers just starting out on the job, but it also includes more experienced workers who may have been promoted to new levels or made lateral moves to other positions. Each time they make a change, they start a probationary period all over again.
Common threads in all the layoffs I have heard about. The workers get email notifications usually in the evening that they are being cut from the work force. Their internal emails are immediately discontinued so they cannot even reply to the notification. Most of the emails do not even address the recipient by name. They begin with a general title. They often give the reason for the layoff as the worker is not meeting the expectations of the job. Yet the workers have presented glowing performance reviews. Some have even gotten commendations for developing techniques that are more efficient for the jobs they were assigned.
In many states, people who become unemployed cannot receive benefits if their terminations were for cause. Being terminated because one's performance was allegedly subpar is reason enough to deny unemployment benefits. This means the terminated workers receive a double whammy.
Trump and Musk claim they are only firing non-essential people from their positions. Air Traffic Control people are still watching the skies, but the maintenance people are the ones that are being fired. Problem is, those controllers depend on antiquated systems that were being maintained by those who were fired. If those systems go down, everything stops.
We are told National Park and Forest Service fire fighters will be retained. but many of the workers that have been fired are also cross trained in firefighting. They are the reserves for the first responders.
The probationary workers just starting out in either service also start out with the lowest jobs--like maintaining the campgrounds (including cleaning the toilets/latrines/porta potties); taking admission tickets at entrances; offering guidance at attractions and even rescue personnel when someone is lost.
This has resulted in a number of reservations being cancelled, campgrounds slated for closure, trails being shut down.
There have been some stupid moves on part of the DOGE layoffs, like firing the people that guard our nuclear weapons stockpile, and firing the people working on the roll out of the new Avian flu vaccine (which was developed through the NIH which is another story)
Now the administration is trying to claw back some of the firings. They are rehiring the nuclear security people, the personnel working on the vaccine, even the workers who were slated to do campground maintenance in the parks and the forest service.
I could go on, but just to sum it all up everything has gone to the shxxx.
This not the way to run a government. My wife spent her whole carrier in local and state government service as a librarian, so I can use her as an example.
First, her probationary periods were for only six months tops. There had been times when the libraries had to face personnel cutbacks, but each time, those with seniority were able to find lower ranking positions within the system and those with superior reviews were given lateral options. At no time did she or any of her peers were actually fired from the system. Most of the times the positions that were eliminated were unfilled in the first place.
Even when Mrs Gramps was bumped from one position to a lower position there was a process that had to be followed. Her supervisor would make it official by going to her to explain what happened. She would be seen by someone from personnel would outline her options. When she was in a union a union rep would also be available. And when she got the formal letter of a demotion (never got one for termination) it would be addressed to her specifically.
Each time she was demoted, she was soon able to regain the position because someone with more seniority would retire and everyone below would be restored to former positions. This happened for 30 years. Eventually, she got to the top of the food chain, so she was in a very secure position when she finally retired.
People have been wondering when this slaughter will stop. When will Congresspeople and Senators step up. There has been a lot of silence, but no more. This past week a number of congresspeople have had townhalls with their constituents and many of them are getting an ear full. Even when the congresspeople try to defend the cuts, they are being shouted down by the people who voted for them. They are beginning to wake up to who put them in office, and that is not Trump.
Americans, support your local government workers. Go to the town halls to let your voices be heard. Support the agencies working with these employees as much as possible. Get involved in the political process.
This has to stop.
First: regarding the size of the workforce. It might surprise you to know that the work force has stayed relatively flat for well over sixty years, around 2 million workers. Even though federal programs have greatly expanded over three generations, much of the workload is handled through computers and other technologies.
Moreover, the total cost of the workforce is about four percent of the federal budget. Trump and Musk are claiming big savings in their cuts, but in the end, it will likely only save 1% of the total budget.
This suggests they are not trimming any fat, but they are cutting to the bone, even scrapping the bones.
They claim they are cutting only the probationary workers, those that have one or two years on the job. Now you might think this would include younger workers just starting out on the job, but it also includes more experienced workers who may have been promoted to new levels or made lateral moves to other positions. Each time they make a change, they start a probationary period all over again.
Common threads in all the layoffs I have heard about. The workers get email notifications usually in the evening that they are being cut from the work force. Their internal emails are immediately discontinued so they cannot even reply to the notification. Most of the emails do not even address the recipient by name. They begin with a general title. They often give the reason for the layoff as the worker is not meeting the expectations of the job. Yet the workers have presented glowing performance reviews. Some have even gotten commendations for developing techniques that are more efficient for the jobs they were assigned.
In many states, people who become unemployed cannot receive benefits if their terminations were for cause. Being terminated because one's performance was allegedly subpar is reason enough to deny unemployment benefits. This means the terminated workers receive a double whammy.
Trump and Musk claim they are only firing non-essential people from their positions. Air Traffic Control people are still watching the skies, but the maintenance people are the ones that are being fired. Problem is, those controllers depend on antiquated systems that were being maintained by those who were fired. If those systems go down, everything stops.
We are told National Park and Forest Service fire fighters will be retained. but many of the workers that have been fired are also cross trained in firefighting. They are the reserves for the first responders.
The probationary workers just starting out in either service also start out with the lowest jobs--like maintaining the campgrounds (including cleaning the toilets/latrines/porta potties); taking admission tickets at entrances; offering guidance at attractions and even rescue personnel when someone is lost.
This has resulted in a number of reservations being cancelled, campgrounds slated for closure, trails being shut down.
There have been some stupid moves on part of the DOGE layoffs, like firing the people that guard our nuclear weapons stockpile, and firing the people working on the roll out of the new Avian flu vaccine (which was developed through the NIH which is another story)
Now the administration is trying to claw back some of the firings. They are rehiring the nuclear security people, the personnel working on the vaccine, even the workers who were slated to do campground maintenance in the parks and the forest service.
I could go on, but just to sum it all up everything has gone to the shxxx.
This not the way to run a government. My wife spent her whole carrier in local and state government service as a librarian, so I can use her as an example.
First, her probationary periods were for only six months tops. There had been times when the libraries had to face personnel cutbacks, but each time, those with seniority were able to find lower ranking positions within the system and those with superior reviews were given lateral options. At no time did she or any of her peers were actually fired from the system. Most of the times the positions that were eliminated were unfilled in the first place.
Even when Mrs Gramps was bumped from one position to a lower position there was a process that had to be followed. Her supervisor would make it official by going to her to explain what happened. She would be seen by someone from personnel would outline her options. When she was in a union a union rep would also be available. And when she got the formal letter of a demotion (never got one for termination) it would be addressed to her specifically.
Each time she was demoted, she was soon able to regain the position because someone with more seniority would retire and everyone below would be restored to former positions. This happened for 30 years. Eventually, she got to the top of the food chain, so she was in a very secure position when she finally retired.
People have been wondering when this slaughter will stop. When will Congresspeople and Senators step up. There has been a lot of silence, but no more. This past week a number of congresspeople have had townhalls with their constituents and many of them are getting an ear full. Even when the congresspeople try to defend the cuts, they are being shouted down by the people who voted for them. They are beginning to wake up to who put them in office, and that is not Trump.
Americans, support your local government workers. Go to the town halls to let your voices be heard. Support the agencies working with these employees as much as possible. Get involved in the political process.
This has to stop.
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