Trump’s federal firings imperil government services from cities to farm towns
The cuts were initially poised to affect nuclear defense programs and impact veterans’ mental health care, workers warned.
By Hannah Natanson, Emily Davies, Lisa Rein and Rachel Siegel, Washington Post
The Trump administration’s move to fire thousands of federal employees could have a swift and severe impact on public services, staffers warned Friday, making it harder for veterans to get mental health care and hampering electric service to some rural residents as a beleaguered workforce struggles to cover for lost colleagues.
The full impact of the terminations will not be fully known for weeks or months, and some job losses may be reversed or challenged by law. At least one agency, the Department of Energy, paused some cuts to assess their effect on nuclear defense programs, according to three people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Still, workers said basic functions at many agencies are slowing almost immediately and could break down as critical colleagues are shown the door.
Summary:
A recent Trump administration initiative has fired at least 14,000 federal employees, primarily targeting probationary workers hired within the past two years. The cuts, led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have affected multiple agencies including Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, and the Interior Department. More terminations are expected.
The firings are already impacting government services across the country, affecting veterans’ healthcare, rural utilities, national parks, and environmental protection. Many terminated employees report receiving little notice, and some agencies are reporting errors in the process, including termination letters with incorrect information.
At the Energy Department, staff who managed homeowners’ electricity bills were dismissed, potentially leaving rural communities without basic power management services. In healthcare, the cuts affected over 5,200 health workers, including critical medical staff at the National Institutes of Health such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lost 1,269 staff members, raising concerns about the nation’s ability to respond to public health challenges and maintain essential patient care services.
Critics warn the rapid dismissals are creating immediate disruptions to essential services. The full impact of these terminations won’t be known for weeks or months.
