The Rachel Maddow Show cover image

The Rachel Maddow Show

How one man took on Trump's improper firings and saved the jobs of thousands of people

Mar 7, 2025
Hampton Dellinger, former chief of the Office of Special Counsel, discusses his fierce battle against improper federal worker firings during the Trump administration. He highlights the alarming rise in layoffs affecting key services like Veterans Affairs and Social Security. Dellinger delves into the importance of maintaining political independence and legal protocols in government, while also addressing the unsettling implications of cryptocurrency in politics. His insights underscore the vital need for protecting whistleblower rights and maintaining the rule of law in turbulent times.
43:13

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Quick takeaways

  • Hampton Dellinger emphasizes the crucial role of political independence in protecting federal workers from improper firings during Trump's administration.
  • The surge in layoffs and funding cuts under Trump's policies has raised significant concerns about the impact on essential services for veterans.

Deep dives

Concerning Hiring and Firing Trends

Recent data reveals a stark decline in private sector hiring, with numbers falling below half of economists' expectations, indicating potential economic downturns as new policies are implemented. Layoffs have surged dramatically, reaching their highest levels since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 170,000 job cuts reported in January alone—a 245 percent increase from the previous month. This pattern reflects unsettling similarities to the economic turmoil seen during the Great Recession in 2009, as comparisons are drawn between the current climate under Trump's administration and past economic crises. Despite calls for cautious interpretation of these figures, such as seasonal variations affecting employment rates, the implications of declining employment figures remain a point of serious concern.

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