## Federal Workers Face Uncertainty as Shutdown Looms and Trump Pursues Workforce Reduction
A potential US federal government shutdown is leaving federal employees “on edge” as former President Donald Trump aims to substantially reduce the federal workforce. the looming shutdown raises concerns about the continuation of vital services, including those related to emergencies, even as the personnel responsible for preventative measures face potential disruption.Workers currently employed are bracing for possible layoffs should the shutdown occur. Colin Smalley, president of International Federation of Professional and technical Engineers Local 777, representing 300 US army corps of engineers employees in Chicago, expressed concern over the use of federal livelihoods “as a pawn” in negotiations. “They are trying to extract these big changes on the backs of the public services federal workers provide and our communities run on,” Smalley stated.
the Trump administration has estimated a reduction of approximately 300,000 federal workers by the end of the year. While these cuts haven’t fully materialized in monthly jobs reports - which will be delayed due to the shutdown - federal employment was already down 97,000 jobs as of August,according to the bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm).
The potential shutdown echoes a previous 35-day shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019, which the congressional Budget Office estimated cost the US economy around $11 billion (https://carbajal.house.gov/shutdown/).
Some argue the federal government has been operating under a de facto partial shutdown sence Trump took office, citing the removal of roughly one-eighth of the federal workforce, the dismantling of agencies, and the elimination of programs.
“We do not want a shutdown, but we know that the moast crucial thing is standing up against further harms through our programs,” said Kirwan, emphasizing the reliance of “tens of millions of Americans” on critical federal services. He hopes any passed budget will include protections against further program cuts, reinforcing the government’s role in public service.
Labor unions have challenged the administration’s firing threats with a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, alleging the move is unlawful and intended to punish workers and pressure Congress.Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, condemned the potential firings as “illegal – it’s immoral and unconscionable,” noting that over a third of federal employees are military veterans. (https://democracyforward.org/updates/trump-administrations-plan-for-mass-firing-of-federal-workers-during-government-shutdown-violates-law-unions-say/).
