Federal workers face mass firings this summer after Supreme Court ruling
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
It's shaping up to be a summer of firings for tens of thousands of federal workers, now that the Supreme Court cleared the way for agencies to conduct layoffs.
Why it matters: Opponents of the White House chainsaw approach say the federal government's capabilities will be forever damaged by these cuts.
- The Trump administration says this is just a step toward better government efficiency.
Zoom out: For these workers, the timing of these cuts— known as reductions in force, or RIFs in fed-speak — is particularly bad. The hiring market is bleak for those who are out of work and looking for jobs, federal data shows.
Catch-up quick: Thousands of workers across 19 agencies, who received notice that they were being fired back in the spring, have been out on paid leave pending the results of the court challenge to their dismissals.
- The Supreme Court lifted a stay on their firings this week. Now these workers are just waiting for the axe to fall — again.
"It's not waiting to hear 'if,' it's waiting to hear [when]," says Aisha Coffey, a strategic communications specialist at the FDA, who got a separation letter from the agency in April.
- Coffey is somewhat sure that at least her next paycheck will be coming, as the most recent pay period ended on Friday.
- Overall the past few months has felt like "government Squid Games," she says, referencing the dystopian Netflix series where contestants battle to the death.
- An IRS employee tells Axios on Friday, "we're just waiting for the guillotine."
Where it stands: The State Department got moving on RIFs Friday, only days after the Supreme Court ruling.
- A cable from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reviewed by Axios, went out across the agency on Friday announcing a reorganization that would lead to 3,000 departures.
- That includes layoffs of 1,353 employees — 1,107 in civil service and 246 in foreign service.
- The remaining departures were through the deferred resignation program, per an agency official.
The State Department had no further comment, but White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said: "Bloated operations often result in duplicative or even contradictory foreign policy. By reorganizing the Department of State, Secretary Rubio is ensuring that all actions align with the America First agenda that people voted for."
Reality check: It's not clear yet how many agencies will follow through with their RIF plans, notes the Washington Post. Some have dialed back plans.
- And the Supreme Court didn't actually rule on the merits of these actions in its decision this week — the case is still moving forward.
The bottom line: Even if workers eventually prevail, the fact that firings can now proceed, and are happening, will lead to huge changes in how the government works (or doesn't).
- The damage is done, says Erik Snyder, a counsel at Gilbert Employment Law, who represented the RIFd workers in the case decided this week.
- "What is happening now will take a generation to undo."
