A federal judge has stopped the Trump administration and DOGE from firing thousands of federal employees. Their sudden layoffs led to protests, lawsuits, and confusion among workers.
Employees Left in Shock
Many employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were caught off guard when their email access and key cards were deactivated. DOGE had cut thousands of jobs with less than 48 hours’ notice.
One USAID employee shared their frustration:
“It’s been horrible, there’s been little to no communication with us.”
Another employee expressed sadness over the agency’s changes:
“It’s devastating. The pictures of our humanitarian work that we’ve done for decades are gone. It feels like our identity has been stripped away.”
More Job Cuts Expected Across Agencies
In the last two weeks, federal agencies have received emails warning of similar job cuts. Senator Peter Welch of Vermont is now questioning whether DOGE’s cost-cutting measures are actually helpful or just harmful.
He explained:
“I support auditing government spending to ensure taxpayer money is used wisely. But what DOGE is doing is firing people first and figuring things out later.”
Welch also criticized DOGE for trying to access FEMA applicants’ personal data:
“It’s completely unacceptable for an unelected group to have private information.”
Trump and Musk Support DOGE’s Actions
Despite the backlash, former President Donald Trump has shown full support for DOGE. He even posted on X (formerly Twitter) encouraging Elon Musk to take more aggressive action.
During a cabinet meeting, Musk defended DOGE, saying:
“The goal is to address the enormous deficit.”
Judge Declares Mass Firings Unlawful
A federal judge ruled that DOGE had no legal right to order mass firings. However, many employees have already lost their jobs and are now filing lawsuits.
Meanwhile, layoffs continue in several federal departments, including the National Weather Service.
