1A Checking In On The Federal Workforce As The Government Shuts Down
Oct 1, 2025
Join Lisa Desjardins, PBS NewsHour correspondent, Max Steyer, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, and Eileen Sullivan, New York Times reporter, as they navigate the fallout from a massive government shutdown. Discover the chaos behind the exodus of over 150,000 federal employees and the emotional toll on those who remain. They address how the administration's tactics leverage layoffs, the confusion within agencies, and the broader economic impacts, all while challenging public perceptions of federal workers.
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Shutdown Used To Hollow Out Workforce
- The Trump administration used the shutdown to accelerate removal of federal workers and shift blame politically.
- More than 150,000 federal employees left the payroll, the largest exodus since WWII.
Cuts Are Chaotic, Not Strategic
- The recent removals are non-strategic mass firings rather than targeted efficiency cuts.
- Max Steyer warns this 'fire, fire, fire' approach harms public services and safety over time.
Watch For Illegal Firing Claims
- Understand that a shutdown does not grant extra firing authority to the administration.
- Citizens and lawmakers should scrutinize any attempts to use the shutdown to terminate employees beyond lawful RIF processes.
