AFGE has launched a new series, Chaos and Corruption Weekly Digest, to document chaos, corruption, and efforts to dismantle our democratic institutions by the Trump administration.
It’s been less than a month since President Trump took office, but the damage on federal workers and the American people is taking shape.
In Week 4, Trump illegally fired leaders of independent agencies and replaced them with loyalists after firing inspectors general who investigate waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. He also targeted hundreds of thousands of new hires in a broader effort to purge federal employees.
Elon Musk’s goal in raiding federal agencies has become clear as his companies are benefiting from the collapse of agencies that are investigating complaints against him and his businesses. Just like Sen. Elizabeth Warren says, “This is like a bank robber getting to fire the cops and disable the alarms just before he strolls into the bank lobby.”
Here’s a quick roundup of Trump’s attacks in his 4th week in office and how these actions hurt federal workers and the American people they serve.
Feb. 10: Trump fired Susan Tsui Grundmann, chair of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), leaving the agency with only two members. The FLRA is an appellate agency tasked with settling disputes between federal workers and agencies such as the scope of bargaining and unfair labor practice complaints. Colleen Duffy Kiko is now chair of the FLRA with Anne Wagner as the sole member.
FLRA members can only be removed for “inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office” according to federal laws. And they must be given a hearing first. The firing of Grundmann before her term ends in July is a blatant attack on the agency that helps protect workers. Trump similarly fired Hampton Dellinger, head of the whistleblower protection agency, the Office of Special Counsel, on Feb. 7. But Dellinger sued and was temporarily reinstated, arguing that he could only be removed for cause.
The two members of the FLRA can still issue decisions, but there will likely be delays if there’s a deadlock, which was the case before Wagner was confirmed in July last year. A third member appointed by Trump isn’t exactly good news for federal workers trying to fend off politically motivated attacks by the president either.
Feb. 10: Trump fired Cathy Harris, chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Her term was to continue into 2028. Henry J. Kerner replaced Harris as chair. His term is set to expire March 2030.
Trump also stripped Ray Limon of his vice chair title. His term expires on March 1.
MSPB protects our merit systems. It’s where federal workers turn to to appeal adverse actions including removals that they believe are illegitimate. According to federal laws, MSPB members can be removed by the president, but “only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.”
Two members of the board can still issue decisions, but with Limon’s term expiring next month, the board may lose its quorum and won’t be able to issue decisions as was the case during the first Trump administration.
Feb. 11: Trump issued an executive order directing agencies to work with DOGE and prepare for reductions in force (RIFs). They were also directed to provide reorganization plans within 30 days and to hire no more than one employee for every four that depart. This is an attack on the American people who rely on federal workers for government services. As there won’t be enough people to do the work, everyday Americans, veterans, and seniors will find it harder or impossible to access services.
Feb. 12: Trump fired thousands of probationary employees at the Department of Education, the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the General Services Administration (GSA).
"The Agency finds that you are not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge and skills do not fit the current needs, and your performance has not been adequate to justify further employment with the Agency," said the letters sent to at least 45 new hires at the SBA as reported by Reuters.
Again this is an effort to undermine the missions of these agencies.
Besides overseeing student loans, special education programs, and federal funds for low-income students, the Department of Education also enforces civil rights laws to protect students from discrimination and conducts school census that researchers rely on to evaluate schools and programs.
SBA provides loans to small businesses and disaster-impacted communities. It also has programs supporting clean energy, women-owned, minority-owned, and veteran-owned businesses.
CFBP protects everyday consumers and veterans and holds bad actors accountable for things like fraudulent mortgages, fraudulent bank fees, credit card frauds, predatory lending, and payday loans.
GSA manages the federal government’s real estate and contracts. It manages thousands of federal worksites across the country. Trump has directed GSA to terminate thousands of office leases nationwide as part of the effort to shrink the government. According to news reports, those who are being let go are tech employees working on multiple government projects.
Feb. 12: The administration moved forward with its deferred resignation scheme after a judge ruled AFGE and allies lacked standing in the case. The judge said the group needs to file claims with the MSPB, FLRA, or the Office of Special Counsel before suing in court. Trump has just fired the heads of these agencies appointed by Joe Biden. About 75,000 people accepted the offer to resign now but be paid through September, a scheme that many experts warned is illegal and unenforceable.
Feb. 13: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) fired probationary employees and the entire communications team. OPM, the central personnel management agency, was taken over by Elon Musk and tasked with carrying out the government purge.
“The agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the agency would be in the public interest,” acting Director Charles Ezell wrote in a termination notice sent to impacted employees that was obtained by Government Executive. “For this reason, the agency informs you that effective at the close of business today (Feb. 13, 2025), you are being terminated from your position with the agency and the federal civil service during your trial period.”
Feb. 13: Trump directed agency heads to fire nearly all probationary employees, throwing away the very talent that agencies need to function effectively in the years ahead. This could impact 220,000 new hires across the government. AFGE condemned the mass firing.
In a major victory for AFGE, allies, and federal workers, a judge in California ordered the Trump administration to reinstate probationary employees fired at six agencies.
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AFGE and allies last week filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for unlawfully and unilaterally terminating a negotiated union contract, which protects approximately 47,000 Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) across the country.
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Week 8 saw the economy in chaos while Trump and Musk attacked the Education Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Social Security, and Medicare.
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