A wave of protests erupted in Parkersburg, West Virginia, as federal employees and community members gathered to oppose mass firings carried out by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 190 reported that over 100 federal workers have already lost their jobs, leaving many families in economic uncertainty.
Federal Workers Face Sudden Job Losses
For those affected, the layoffs came as a shock, leaving them uncertain about their future. Jennifer Piggott, one of the recently fired employees, described the devastating impact on her family:
“Shock, really. Just trying to figure out what my family’s going to do. This greatly affects us,” Piggott said. “Obviously, we’re in America. We’re a two-income home. And we just lost one of those incomes. So we’re just trying to figure out how to move forward.”
Like Piggott, many others at the protest were former federal workers who had been laid off. Others, still employed, fear they may be next.
Sarah Hughes, another fired worker, expressed her frustration:
“It’s heartbreaking. I’ve been trying to get this job for years. I worked to gain the experience I needed. It was supposed to be a stable position, that’s one of the benefits of working for the government.”
Union Leader Calls Layoffs Illegal
The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has strongly condemned the firings, calling them illegal and unjustified. Eric Engle, Chief Steward of NTEU, accused DOGE of breaking federal employment laws by dismissing employees without valid reasons.
“They violated merit systems law. They violated civil service protection law,” Engle stated. “They claimed the firings were performance-based, but that’s absolutely false. These employees have stellar performance appraisals to prove it. Their rights under merit systems law have been violated.”
The Merit Systems Protection Board and the Office of Special Counsel are now involved, working with the NTEU to fight for reinstatement of the fired employees and prevent further dismissals.
DOGE’s Cost-Cutting Measures Criticized
DOGE has defended its actions, claiming that these cuts are necessary to improve government efficiency and reduce waste. However, union leaders and workers dispute this claim, arguing that these firings are harming efficiency rather than improving it.
“Our jobs are much more difficult now,” Engle explained. *”We have more responsibilities, and there is no efficiency being achieved here. No taxpayer money is being saved. There is no waste or fraud being eliminated. That’s what we do as federal employees. DOGE is *not rooting out waste—it’s destroying jobs.”
Impact on the Local Economy
Beyond the personal toll on federal workers, the economic impact of these layoffs could soon be felt across Wood County and beyond. Engle warned that these job cuts could lead to devastating consequences for the community.
“People are losing their livelihoods. They could lose their homes. They have children and elderly family members to support. These job cuts are destroying lives.”
Federal offices play a critical role in local economies, and mass layoffs could lead to declining consumer spending, business closures, and increased unemployment.
