The Purge of Public Servants

The human side of a national crisis – in more ways than one.

There's a certain camaraderie among federal workers. Though we work in vastly different organizations and roles, one thing unites us: our love of country and commitment to public service. These last few weeks have been unimaginably difficult for the 2.3 million people who make up the federal workforce, as they are forced to decide whether to accept the "buyout offer" from the Trump Administration or not. There's also a lot of confusion about who is even eligible and whether the administration will keep its word and honor the deal. In the latest development, a U.S. judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration's proposed buyout for federal workers until Monday, giving an initial win to labor unions that sued to stop it.

These are fellow Americans suddenly faced with a loss of livelihood—work that they were dedicated to for years or even decades—and all of the fears and sadness that go along with that. But the consequences of this 'purge' go beyond personal loss. They threaten the very institutions that protect our national security, public health, economic stability, and disaster response. The potential fallout from these actions is catastrophic.

National Security: Weakening America from Within

Intelligence agencies rely on institutional knowledge and career professionals to counter threats from foreign adversaries and domestic extremists. 

• Counterterrorism at Risk: The FBI's ability to investigate domestic extremists is already being gutted. Agents who led January 6 prosecutions and counterterrorism efforts are being sidelined solely for doing their jobs. Expert leaders on countering espionage and global terrorism are being reassigned or asked to resign. This weakens our ability to prevent future attacks.

• Despite claims from the Trump Administration that national security employees would be exempt, CIA employees recently also received the email. A mass exodus from the CIA due to buyouts would significantly weaken U.S. national security, leaving intelligence gaps that adversaries could exploit. The loss of experience, knowledge, and global intelligence networks could increase threats at home and abroad, making the country more vulnerable to cyberattacks, terrorism, and foreign influence. Even more egregious, recently, the names of intelligence officers were sent via unclassified email to the White House as part of the efforts to downsize the agency–a reckless move that puts their lives at risk and plays right into the hands of our foreign adversaries.

This isn't just bad policy—it's dangerous. History has shown us that weakening national security institutions creates vulnerabilities our adversaries will exploit.

Public Health: The Next Crisis Will Be Worse

We saw what happened when public health was politicized under Trump. This next wave of federal workforce cuts will leave us even more unprepared for future pandemics, biosecurity threats, and drug safety concerns.

• Hollowing Out the CDC and FDA: As public health experts are forced out, slower outbreak responses, vaccine delays, and reduced drug safety oversight will follow. (In case you missed the latest Heritage Foundation's connection to all of this, they have a watchlist including the names, photos, and work history of several Black employees from across various health agencies. Reprehensible.) 

• Cuts to Food and Drug Safety: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures the safety of food and medicine. Budget cuts and layoffs mean fewer inspections, increasing the risk of contaminated food recalls and unsafe drugs making it to market.

• Biosecurity Risks: Agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) lead research on bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases. They also focus on areas such as chronic disease prevention, environmental health disparities, and social determinants of health. Weakening them leaves us vulnerable to biological threats—whether natural or deliberate. Public health is national security. When these institutions fail, Americans die. 

Disaster Response: When FEMA Can't Save You

Natural disasters don't care about political loyalty. A fully staffed and well-resourced Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is essential as climate change drives more extreme weather events. Trump's workforce purge threatens the agency's ability to respond. He's already threatened to get rid of the agency altogether.

• Slower Response to Hurricanes, Wildfires, and Tornadoes: With fewer trained responders, federal aid will take longer to reach communities in crisis. The next Category 5 hurricane could hit Florida or Texas, and there won't be enough trained responders to manage the situation.

• Delays in Federal Relief Funds: Disaster-stricken communities depend on FEMA grants to rebuild. With staffing shortages, Americans will wait months—if not years—for recovery assistance. To be clear, that's on top of any partisan politics the President decides to play again when it comes to helping Americans.

We saw a preview of this during Hurricane Katrina when FEMA, underfunded and significantly understaffed, failed to provide immediate relief. The result? Over 1,800 lives were lost.

Everyday Services: The Slow Collapse of Government

Many Americans don't realize how much they rely on federal workers until those services disappear.

• Fewer Consumer Protections: Agencies that monitor financial fraud, environmental safety, and workplace protections are being gutted. Expect an increase in scams, lead poisoning cases, and dangerous working conditions. 

• National Parks Falling Apart: The National Park Service losing staff will lead to closures, deteriorating infrastructure, and the decline of America's public lands.

Let's also talk about our amazing military veterans. Not only do they currently make up thirty percent of the government workforce, but what happens to the services and healthcare they receive from VA hospitals when the staffing shortagesonly worsen?

As a reminder, when Trump shut down the government for 35 days in 2018-2019, we saw what happens when federal agencies grind to a halt. Now, imagine that happening permanently.

Economy: Job Losses and Financial Instability

People don't always see the connection between government jobs and their local economy—until those jobs disappear. The loss of these jobs affects not only the individuals and their families but also the businesses and communities they support. It's a ripple effect that can lead to financial instability and job losses in the private sector.

• Mass Layoffs in Government-Dependent Towns: Many communities, particularly rural America, rely on federal jobs. A sudden purge of government employees means local economies will tank, small businesses will close, and unemployment will rise.

• Delays in Social Security and Medicare: The Social Security Administration is already understaffed. Further cuts will mean longer wait times for seniors and disabled Americans to receive benefits.

But wait, there's more...

USAID has been making headlines due to its workforce being placed on administrative leave and the abrupt shutdown of the entire agency. The State Department and USAID are critical to diplomacy and global stability, with career diplomats working to prevent conflicts and negotiate security agreements. Unilaterally shutting down USAID in one sweeping action is irresponsible and likely illegal, as Congress should have a say in such a decision. For those who dismiss the importance of diplomacy or international development and ask, what's in it for me?—USAID initiatives help create markets for American businesses abroad. Eliminating these programs could lead to domestic job losses, so much for protecting American jobs.

Transportation and Aviation: Your Flights Are About to Get Riskier

If you've ever been frustrated by flight delays or unsafe road conditions, imagine a future where things get exponentially worse because of federal workforce cuts.

• Fewer Air Traffic Controllers: The FAA is already experiencing a shortage of air traffic controllers. Further reductions mean longer wait times, more flight cancellations, and an increased risk of mid-air collisions due to overworked staff.  In the aftermath of the recent horrific tragedy at Reagan National Airport, we should be concerned about the possibility of DOGE Musk-Rats sitting behind the computers in those towers. There's certainly room for improvement regarding safety, but let's hope it's not at the expense of purging experts from the workforce. Oh. Wait.

• Laxer Airline Safety Inspections: The Department of Transportation enforces airline safety regulations. A weakened workforce means fewer inspections, allowing airlines to cut corners—putting passengers at risk.

• Highway and Bridge Collapses: The Department of Transportation also oversees infrastructure safety. If engineers and inspectors are laid off, maintenance backlogs will grow, increasing the likelihood of deadly bridge collapses and highway failures.

History has shown that mass federal workforce reductions debilitate essential services and endanger lives. The difference this time is that it's all intentional. Trump and his allies—including Musk and people like recently confirmed OMB Director Russ Vought—aren't just downsizing the government. There are proper mechanisms for a federal workforce reduction, and we should undoubtedly oversee and assess where we need to improve and cut down on spending. However, the manner in which they are going about this and what they are currently doing is deliberately undermining the government's ability to function.

This is how authoritarianism takes root—not with dramatic takeovers, but by systematically breaking the institutions that keep democracy functioning. It's up to us, the people, to decide whether we stand by and watch this happen—or take action to stop it. Authoritarianism thrives on fear and silence, but when we refuse to accept lies as truth, we begin to break its power. Even the smallest act of defiance—speaking out, refusing to comply, standing together—can unravel the system being built to control us.

More soon,

Olivia