Trump Administration Fires Health Employees Amid Government Shutdown Chaos
The Trump administration has issued termination notifications to an unknown number of federal health employees, sparking concerns among senior officials and lawyers that the move may be illegal. According to sources within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the terminations are part of a mass reduction in force aimed at reducing the agency's workforce.
This latest development comes as the government shutdown enters its second week, with disagreements over Affordable Care Act funding at the center of the impasse. The HHS has already undergone significant workforce reductions since Trump took office, with over 20,000 employees let go through early retirements and layoffs. In addition to these terminations, the administration pushed out 10,000 more employees in early retirements, deferred resignations, and other efforts, slashing the HHS workforce from 82,000 to 62,000.
Critics argue that the latest terminations are a politically motivated response to the government shutdown. "This is a clear example of the Trump administration using its power to punish federal employees for the shutdown," said a senior official at HHS, who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of retribution. "It's a desperate attempt to shift blame and distract from their own failures."
According to employment lawyers, the terminations may be in violation of federal law. "The administration is using its authority to terminate employees without regard for the impact on the workforce or the public," said one lawyer, who specializes in federal employment law. "This is a clear abuse of power and could lead to costly lawsuits down the line."
The HHS has not released an official statement regarding the terminations, but sources within the agency confirm that the notifications were issued on Friday afternoon. The exact number of employees affected by the terminations remains unknown.
As the government shutdown continues, federal health employees are facing uncertainty about their future. "We're doing everything we can to support our employees during this difficult time," said a spokesperson for HHS. "However, we cannot comment further on specific personnel matters."
The situation has sparked concerns among lawmakers and advocacy groups, who are calling for an end to the shutdown and protection of federal employees' rights. "This is a dark day for federal employees and a clear example of the Trump administration's disregard for the rule of law," said a spokesperson for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). "We urge Congress to pass a clean funding bill and protect our members from these kinds of abuses."
The government shutdown has now entered its 12th day, with no end in sight. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: federal health employees are paying the price for the administration's failure to reach a deal on Affordable Care Act funding.
Background
Since taking office, the Trump administration has pushed out over 30,000 HHS employees through early retirements and layoffs. The agency's workforce has been reduced from 82,000 to 62,000, with many employees left uncertain about their future.
Quotes
"This is a clear example of the Trump administration using its power to punish federal employees for the shutdown." - Senior official at HHS
"The administration is using its authority to terminate employees without regard for the impact on the workforce or the public. This is a clear abuse of power and could lead to costly lawsuits down the line." - Employment lawyer
Next Steps
As the government shutdown continues, federal health employees are facing uncertainty about their future. Lawmakers and advocacy groups are calling for an end to the shutdown and protection of federal employees' rights. The situation remains fluid, with no clear resolution in sight.
This story was compiled from reports by Ars Technica and Ars Technica.
