OP-ED: Why we need federal workers
Since January, the president has moved with more aggressive force than a summer thunderstorm. With a storm, we quickly lose interest unless the power goes out or the basement floods. Similar to a summer storm, we became disengaged from the disruptive upheaval of Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in terminating thousands of federal workers when this threat was replaced by other dire headlines.
Unfortunately, because of recent events, and without Elon Musk, DOGE is about to recapture our attention. Recent flash floods in Texas have reminded us of the importance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service. DOGE terminations in other federal agencies are being increased.
In a June 27 ruling, the Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s request to halt the lower court’s nationwide injunction blocking Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship. The ruling means that using lower court injunctions to prevent national termination of federal workers was also overturned. On July 8 and 14 the Supreme Court signed two additional orders permitting the firing of government workers while the cases are litigated.
It is not hyperbole to claim that before the end of the year, each of us or someone we know will be impacted by the loss of federal workers. Significant cuts at Veterans Affairs have impacted both staffing and contracts. According to recent reporting by ProPublica, “In Pittsburgh, two trials to treat veterans with advanced head and neck cancer have not started because of the hiring freeze.”
Budget cuts and workforce reductions at the Federal Aviation Administration have already impacted summer travel. The National Institutes of Health has been impacted by job losses, grant cancellations, and a chilling effect on research funding.
DOGE has made cuts in the U.S. Forest Service that reduced the number of personnel available to prevent wildfires. The National Park Service has experienced reduced staffing. According to the National Resources Defense Council, “Laying off thousands of park service employees makes it a lot easier to exploit public resources for profit.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has undergone budget cuts and office closures. These have directly impacted its ability to ensure workplace safety. On July 1, the Post -Gazette reported that the Mine Safety and Health Administration will end its lease at the Mt. Pleasant location in Westmoreland County, “the busiest office in the nation.”
At agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture, DOGE cuts have led to fewer food safety inspections, reduced research on foodborne illnesses, and potential disruptions in the food supply chain. At the Army Corps of Engineers, DOGE has implemented lease terminations and proposed layoffs. These cuts are raising concerns about the corps’ ability to fulfill its mission, including maintaining critical infrastructure and ensuring public safety. Many other agencies that provide an array of public services have also been targeted.
How does the public feel about federal government workers? In January, the Pew Research Center conducted a nationwide survey. As expected, Americans are evenly divided on the importance of government size and scope. Forty-nine percent say they’d prefer a smaller government that provides fewer services, while 48% prefer a larger government that provides more services. It will be interesting to revisit these survey questions after the full effect of the are felt throughout the nation.
While we wait to absorb the fallout, two recent books by best-selling author Michael Lewis can provide some hard facts and heartfelt stories on the role that federal workers play in our lives. According to a review in the Guardian, the books together make a strong case that “you could lift the lid on any federal department and find people you’ve never heard of, doing work whose importance you’ve never understood.”
The earlier book, “The Fifth Risk,” was published in 2018 during Trump’s first administration, when reducing government was only a threat. Published earlier this year, the second book, “Who Is Government? The Story of Public Service,” was based on a series of articles that Lewis had previously published in the Washington Post.
In “The Fifth Risk,” Lewis’ focus is on bureaucrats from the Department of Energy, Agriculture, and Commerce. The book title draws attention to the qualified employees who provide risk assessment, which he calls “program management.” Without these individuals carefully working in the background, the existential “risks” that we never knew existed will never be mapped out until it is too late. The chances of preventing a nuclear, weather, or viral disaster all increase exponentially. The boom vividly points out the consequences of voters giving control of our government to a Trump administration that has no idea how government works.
The more recent Lewis book, “Who is Government?” focuses on the quiet employees who represent public service at its best. The stories of workers across the bureaucracy clarify that federal employees emphasize teamwork, not individual accomplishments. In many examples like the mine safety employee or the epidemiologist at the FDA, the private sector would simply “let people die” without the input from these federal specialists.
After reading both books it is clear that DOGE’s politicalized agenda is the opposite of the civic values held by dedicated federal employees. Lewis’ books could not have come at a better time. It turns out that behind the worker who adjusts our Social Security benefits are 10 unknown employees who are keeping us safe.
Gary Stout is a Washington attorney.