WASHINGTON D.C. — As mass layoffs of federal workers continue under the Trump administration’s efforts to shrink the government, Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) is calling for more compassion in the process. In an interview on CBS’s Face the Nation, Curtis defended the administration’s aggressive cost-cutting moves but also urged leaders to treat affected workers with dignity.
Thousands of employees from agencies such as the National Park Service (NPS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and others have already lost their jobs, raising concerns among lawmakers and citizens alike.
Curtis: ‘We All Knew What We Were Getting with Trump’
Sen. Curtis emphasized that the drastic cuts should not come as a surprise. Echoing comments he made to KSL last week, he noted that many Americans voted for a shake-up in Washington.
“We all knew what we were getting with President Trump,” Curtis said. “Nobody should really be surprised at these dramatic shocks to the system.”
In a recent Deseret News op-ed, Curtis justified the cuts, writing that tackling the nation’s growing debt requires bold action.
“What President Trump is doing now — scrutinizing government spending on programs and employees through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and looking for areas to trim — is something any responsible executive would do,” Curtis wrote.
The Controversial Email from DOGE
Tensions rose after an email, reportedly influenced by Elon Musk, was sent to federal employees. The email demanded that workers list five accomplishments from the previous week and copy their supervisor in the response. Those who failed to comply by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday were warned that their failure to respond would be treated as a resignation.
Musk later doubled down on X (formerly Twitter), posting:
“Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”
Some federal agencies, however, have quietly advised employees to ignore the email, signaling internal resistance to DOGE’s aggressive tactics.
Curtis: Cuts Should Be Handled with Compassion
While Curtis supports reducing government inefficiencies, he criticized DOGE’s approach as “reckless and rash.” On Face the Nation, Curtis stressed the importance of considering the human impact behind the layoffs.
“We all know federal workers who are good people, who work hard, but the reality is we have three million federal workers. Not all of them do,” Curtis said, particularly targeting remote workers. “It’s not unusual to ask them to report what they’re accomplishing.”
Still, Curtis acknowledged the personal toll the cuts are taking on workers and their families:
“If I could say one thing to Elon Musk, it’s like, please put a dose of compassion in this. These are real people, these are real lives, these are real mortgages.”
Divided Opinions on Federal Workforce Cuts
Curtis’s balanced stance reflects the broader divide in Washington:
- Supporters argue the federal workforce has grown inefficient and that cuts are necessary to reduce the national debt.
- Critics warn that mass layoffs will weaken essential government services and hurt families who rely on these jobs.
Federal Workers Left in Limbo
The uncertainty has left thousands of government employees feeling anxious and confused. Some agencies have advised their workers not to reply to the controversial email, leading to widespread uncertainty about job security and next steps.
As layoffs ripple across federal agencies, concerns are also growing about how these cuts could affect:
- Public health initiatives led by the CDC
- Veterans’ benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Environmental conservation efforts run by the National Park Service
