logo
Left in limbo: How federal workers still on the job are coping with chaos

Left in limbo: How federal workers still on the job are coping with chaos

Yahoo02-05-2025

More than 100 days into Donald Trump's presidency, many federal workers have decided to do something that was unthinkable on inauguration day: quit their jobs.
As the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency cuts budgets and headcounts across the government, a workforce used to job security is now beset by low morale and deep uncertainty. Among those who've been fired or quit are tens of thousands of highly trained experts and specialists, draining the agencies of their knowledge base.
Deeper cuts are likely to come.
Weeks away from hurricane season, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is set to lose roughly 1,000 workers – 20% of its full-time staff – who took a buyout offer. About 25% of Internal Revenue Service workers, roughly 22,000 people, are planning to take buyouts. The Environmental Protection Agency this week made another offer to all employees – open through May 5 – to quit now and be paid through the end of September.
Those left behind now face a highly uncertain future in which a job that once seemed secure could disappear in a flash, leaving them wondering if it makes any sense to stay.
Many of the more than a dozen workers who spoke to CNN describe a culture of fear that now permeates.
Just last week, some agencies moved to end flexible work schedules. Some workers' lives are being uprooted by mandatory reassignments and relocations. Many feel they are being pitted against each other because rules around seniority and status mean some staffers could still be displaced from their jobs by coworkers.
Some federal workers said normal activities – such as stepping away from their computers to collaborate in-person with other workers, or attending after-hours retirement parties – are being more closely scrutinized.
Shannon Walsh, a federal worker with the Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago, says that an email employees recently received informing them that their PIV card swipe data is being tracked felt threatening – causing paranoia and uncertainly over how their time is being truly monitored and for what reason.
'Confused. And afraid. It honestly makes me feel both those things but also angry because I feel that that is the point,' said Walsh, a member of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 704. 'It makes me feel like we are being smoked out.'
Ellie Hagen, also an EPA employee in Chicago and a member of the local union, described a 'very intense culture of fear' at work.
Hagen said an office 'retirement' party to celebrate those who were terminated was canceled recently by management. Even though the party was to take place outside of work hours, there was worry it would appear they were being unproductive.
'People are afraid to do things that were once routine,' she said.
Still, many federal workers who spoke to CNN remain resolute and insist they aren't leaving until they are given no choice.
Almost all federal workers in February were offered deferred resignation: quit now and be paid through the end of September. Since then, Trump-appointed agency heads have begun reducing their ranks through multiple efforts, including some that have offered their own buy-outs.
Those efforts have met legal challenges and political backlash from Democrats who are highlighting the implications of those cuts ahead of next year's midterm elections.
One employee at the US Department of Agriculture who spoke to CNN said they recently decided to take the second deferred resignation offer in April after being terminated and then reinstated earlier this year, undermining their sense of job security.
'If I do this, I'm going out on my own terms. I'm choosing it,' the worker said, noting that they'll be paid through September 30 under the program's terms.
When the first buyout was offered earlier this year, the employee didn't give it any thought. They wanted to continue working for USDA, and their boss told them they didn't have anything to worry about. Two days later, they were terminated, along with tens of thousands of other probationary federal workers.
Even those who are staying face continued uncertainty as layoffs are implemented.
The IRS issued a memo last week telling its approximately 90,000 employees that it was withdrawing from an agreement that allowed employees to work a flexible schedule.
As part of a 2022 labor agreement, the IRS allowed employees to work some nine-hour days, so they could take a full typical workday off after they logged enough hours. The deal also allowed employees to pick their start time, giving them additional flexibility over their time.
Those deals were nixed by the IRS as part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to end collective bargaining for federal workers. It also came amid a Trump administration push to shrink the size of the workforce by offering time-limited buyouts in exchange for quitting.
'A lot of people are upset that this was not announced before the option to resign,' a Utah-based IRS employee told CNN. 'Things are sure different around the office these days.'
At the Veterans Health Administration, a draft document from late March reviewed by CNN detailing its 'reductions in force' effort laid out 'a process where one employee may 'bump' another employee out of their position.'
It goes on to explain that employees would be organized based on factors including their tenure and status – such as whether they meet veterans' preference status that helps military veterans get hired.
The document says: 'If you 'bump' another employee, you would retain employment. You may be eligible for grade and/or pay retention. If another employee is ranked higher, you may be 'bumped' out of your role and released from employment.'
Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, said on a call with reporters Friday that displacing other federal employees is typically part of federal reduction-in-force efforts, though he noted that no prior administration has conducted a reduction like this.
'If somebody's been RIF'ed, they may have the opportunity of moving into another position where they have seniority that is specifically similar to the job that they had before,' Stier said. 'They can, in effect, take that job from the incumbent that's there and push that person out. That is part of the RIF procedure.'
The Office of Personnel Management regulations for RIFs include details about so-called bumping and retreating rights, which should apply to any agency conducting a reduction in force, said Jenny Mattingley, vice president for government affairs at the Partnership. However, it can take many months for agencies to properly categorize all the federal employees subject to the layoffs.
It's 'pretty complicated,' she added, noting that an employee's appointment category (such as career staffer or probationary worker), length of service and performance are taken into account, in addition to veteran status.
National Treasury Employees Union National President Doreen Greenwald criticized the Trump administration's 'aggressive mismanagement' of the federal workforce.
'The exodus of talent and nonpartisan dedication to public service makes it harder for our federal agencies to accomplish the important missions assigned to them by Congress. And for those who stay on the job, this administration continues to unnerve them with unnecessary changes to their schedules, petty disruptions to their working lives, deep cuts to their operating budgets and threats to their careers,' Greenwald said in a statement.
At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, roughly two dozen top officials placed on administration leave during the mass April 1 layoffs were given the option to be reassigned to the historically understaffed Indian Health Services.
Those officials – ranging from longtime lab researchers to regulatory and policy experts – received an email with five IHS sites, including Albuquerque, New Mexico, Billings, Montana, and Juneau, Alaska, asking them to rank their preferences.
They were given one day to decide.
At NIH, at least four institute directors, overseeing infectious diseases, minority health and disparities, pediatric disease and nursing research, were placed on administrative leave and given the IHS option.
'Things are broken and confused here,' said a remaining NIH employee. Nearly a month after the mass layoffs, 'we're still learning who is here and who is gone.'
The reassignments to Indian Health Service also angered tribal communities that are in dire need of physicians and nurses at understaffed, remote clinics – not longtime officials and researchers shunted away from their bureaucratic roles.
It was a 'slap in the face,' said Liz Carr, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians who served as a senior IHS advisor during the Biden administration. 'They are painting our communities as a relegation, a hellscape, a place of punishment for these people that want to provide services to HHS in other capacities.'
She added: 'Our people deserve the best of the best, and so sending people to places they don't want to be is not going to create adequate or beneficial health care.'
Most of the officials did not respond to the email and are still in limbo, according to three people familiar with the reorganization efforts. One CDC official responded with their preferences and has received no further communications since then, two of those people said.
'Administrative leave is a pretty big deal. It's closely monitored, but there's so much going on right now [that] I don't even know if there's enough people in HR to be processing putting people on administrative leave,' one former official said.
Overall, Department of Health and Human Services officials' reorganization aimed to slash 20,000 jobs, consolidate programs, and shutter others. Several of the cuts, like a canceled program to study women's health, brought controversy and HHS promises to reverse course.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. insisted soon after the mass layoffs that these things would happen with swift DOGE cuts. 'The part of that, DOGE – we talked about this from the beginning – is we're going to do 80% cuts, but 20% of those are going to have to be reinstalled because we'll make mistakes,' he told reporters on April 3.
But the uncertainty has left remaining health agency employees 'waiting for the next shoe to drop,' said one longtime health official who departed before the mass layoffs. 'People are confused, frustrated, saddened, and worried about the future of public health. Is this just the first step?'
Those workers say the cuts are leading to backlogs and fewer government employees handling the same amount of work.
One medical professional at the Department of Veterans Affairs now has to care for more patients – and ones with higher needs – because their colleague retired recently and a request to replace the person was denied.
'There's no way I can spend as much time on care as my colleague was,' they told CNN. 'So, the patients are suffering.'
Feeling spread very thin, the professional worries that they won't be able to keep up the pace without burning out. They went into the medical field to help people but are upset that they can't provide the type of care their patients need.
Despite all this, they are committed to sticking it out.
'I'm not leaving because I love working with veterans,' they said. 'It feels like a sacred mission, not just a job.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Alaskans plan widespread pro-democracy protests, joining national movement
Alaskans plan widespread pro-democracy protests, joining national movement

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Alaskans plan widespread pro-democracy protests, joining national movement

Protesters gather outside the Anchorage Correctional Complex on June 11, 2025. It was the second consecutive day that protestors gathered at the jail site in response to Trump administration immigration actions. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) As President Donald Trump orders the U.S. military into Los Angeles to confront protesters there, hundreds of Alaskans are preparing to join pro-democracy rallies planned for Saturday. At least 18 events are scheduled to take place in Alaska, and more than 1,500 are scheduled nationwide as part of the 'No Kings' movement, which is organizing to oppose Trump actions. Dave Musgrave is organizing an event in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, a region north of Anchorage that voted overwhelmingly for Trump last year. 'We want to raise concerns about what this administration is doing. It's very much an authoritarian overreach,' he said by phone. Saturday's events were originally scheduled to counter a military march in Washington, D.C., for Trump's 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. They've taken on a new tone since the president ordered the National Guard and the U.S. Marines to oppose protesters in Los Angeles. 'I think the scene is going to be a gathering of citizens concerned about what has been going on, most recently with Donald Trump sending troops to L.A.,' said Laura Stats, who has been helping organize an event in Juneau, Alaska's capital city. Protests were already taking place in Anchorage on Wednesday against the state's decision to accept people arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Forty-two people were arrested outside the state and flown here by federal officials, according to the Alaska Department of Corrections. The small demonstration taking place on a weekday is expected to be followed by a much larger event on Saturday, outside the Anchorage offices of Alaska's three-person congressional delegation. That demonstration will be followed by a march to the Anchorage Park Strip, where Juneteenth celebrations will be taking place. Lu Dyer is communications director for Stand UP Alaska, which is helping organize the event. 'We're protesting Donald Trump violating democratic norms and fanning the flames of fascism in this country, as well (as) on behalf of all the vulnerable folks in this state and outside of it that are falling victim to the president's self-inflicted chaos,' they said. In Juneau, the rally will take place near the city's landmark whale statue. In Palmer, it will be at the intersection of the Glenn Highway and the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Other towns, including Kotzebue, Nome, Petersburg, Homer, Haines, Glennallen, Fairbanks, Sitka and Ketchikan, are holding their own events, with a full listing of times and locations on the 'No Kings' website. Betsy Brennan, a Nome resident, said organizers there are 'trying to be a presence … and reflect the rallies going on nationwide in a peaceful manner.' Some pro-Trump commentators have accused protesters of being paid for their participation. 'I'm just like, 'You've got to be kidding me,'' said Courtney Moore, a volunteer with Stand UP Alaska, describing one false statement she heard. 'No, I don't get paid. I hate all of this for free. I'm an OG Trump hater since 2016.' Musgrave, who plans to be in Palmer, said he expects events across the state to be peaceful. 'What you're going to find at these rallies are granddads and grannies,' he said. 'These are people that never organized before, and they're worried about their kids and their grandkids … and said, 'I just can't abide this.'' Stats, in Juneau, said she agrees with Musgrave's description. 'We're just regular people. We're just regular folks who want a decent life for our children, for our grandchildren, for our neighbors, for our friends, for people who came to this country in good faith — for people who want a decent life. It feels like that's what's being taken away from us,' she said. Some people who plan to participate in the weekend's rallies said they're worried about the possibility of violence by Trump supporters. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has called up that state's National Guard for potential action against protesters in that state. Jessica Bowers, a spokesperson for Gov. Mike Dunleavy, said that when it comes to Alaska, 'At this time, no Alaska National Guard personnel have been activated, nor has a request for activation been made.' Austin McDaniel, communications director for the Alaska Department of Public Safety, said that agency isn't aware of any dangerous or illegal behavior planned as part of the weekend's events. 'Alaskans regularly demonstrate their First Amendment rights peacefully, and we expect the protests this weekend will be no different,' he said. In Anchorage, officers from the city's police department will be near that city's protest and available to help if needed, said Christopher Barraza, deputy director of community relations for APD. 'As far as we're currently aware, they're all supposed to be peaceful protests, but there's always the chance that something could happen,' he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says 5 aid workers killed in attack
US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says 5 aid workers killed in attack

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says 5 aid workers killed in attack

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the United States and Israel-backed organisation established to supplant the aid work of the United Nations, has accused Hamas of killing five staff and wounding multiple others in an attack on a bus en route to a food distribution centre. A bus carrying more than two dozen Palestinians working with the organisation was 'brutally attacked' while travelling to a distribution centre west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, the foundation said in a statement on Wednesday night. While the organisation was still gathering facts, 'at least' five people were killed and there were 'multiple injuries', the foundation said, adding there were fears that some of its staff had been taken captive. 'We condemn this heinous and deliberate attack in the strongest possible terms. These were aid workers. Humanitarians, brothers, sons, and friends, who were risking their lives every day to help others,' the foundation said. 'Our hearts are broken and our thoughts and prayers are with every victim, every family, and every person still unaccounted for.' Hamas, which governs Gaza, did not immediately comment on the claims. Hamas earlier this week denied that it had threatened the foundation after the organisation accused the Palestinian group of making 'direct threats' against its aid organisation, which is led by Johnnie Moore, an evangelical Christian who advised US President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, has been mired in controversy since beginning operations on May 27. The UN and aid groups have boycotted the foundation over concerns that it does not meet basic humanitarian standards and is not independent of Israel. Numerous Israeli attacks on Palestinians have taken place near the foundation's distribution sites in Rafah and the Netzarim Corridor, On Wednesday, 57 people were killed and more than 363 injured as they tried to access aid at the sites, Gaza's Health Ministry said. More than 220 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid since the foundation began operations, according to Gaza health authorities. In its statement, the foundation, which on Saturday reported that it had been unable to distribute aid due to Hamas threats, said the attack 'did not happen in a vacuum'. 'For days, Hamas has openly threatened our team, our aid workers, and the civilians who receive aid from us. These threats were met with silence,' the foundation said. 'Tonight the world must see this for what it is: an attack on humanity,' the foundation added. 'We call on the international community to immediately condemn Hamas for this unprovoked attack and continued threat against our people simply trying to feed the Palestinian people.'

Tesla Robotaxis 'Tentatively' Set to Launch End of June, Elon Musk Says
Tesla Robotaxis 'Tentatively' Set to Launch End of June, Elon Musk Says

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Tesla Robotaxis 'Tentatively' Set to Launch End of June, Elon Musk Says

Tesla Robotaxis 'Tentatively' Set to Launch End of June, Elon Musk Says originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the Tesla robotaxi service is set to 'tentatively' launch in Austin, Texas on June 22 in an X post Tuesday. He said the company plans to begin offering rides to the public on the self-driving robotaxis this month, followed by the first Tesla that will drive straight from a factory to a customer's home starting June also reposted a video of the Tesla Model Y robotaxi driving without someone in the driver's seat. The word 'Robotaxi' appears painted in a graffiti-style white paint on the side of a black SUV in the video. Tesla will begin with 10 to 20 robotaxis with a version of the company's 'Full Self-Driving' technology, according to an interview with Musk from CNBC. While these tests are using the company's Model Y, Tesla aims to create CyberCabs next year. If the launch is successful, Musk said he hopes to expand the service to more cities with thousands of vehicles, according to CNBC's autonomous vehicles are expected to join other self-driving taxi services, such as those from Waymo, on the road soon. The Texas legislation has not placed strict regulations for autonomous vehicles. The city of Austin works with autonomous vehicle companies to help the vehicles operate more safely, according to Austin's Transportation and Public indicated that he will be flying from Los Angeles to Austin on his X account. He also wrote that the launch date could change. 'We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift,' Musk wrote in an X post. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store