More lawsuits anticipated as more federal employees expect layoffs
Senior officials set the downsizing in motion Wednesday with a memo that dramatically expands Trump's efforts to scale back a workforce that he describes as an impediment to his agenda.
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The Trump administration is expecting to announce massive layoffs of federal employees. Local employment attorney Gary Phelan says with these massive layoffs will come a slew of lawsuits.
He says many class-action lawsuits have already been filed by federal workers who have already been let go.
Senior officials set the downsizing in motion Wednesday with a memo that dramatically expands Trump's efforts to scale back a workforce that he describes as an impediment to his agenda.
Thousands of probationary employees have already been fired, and now the Republican administration is turning its attention to career officials with civil service protection.
Phelan says these layoffs will trickle down and end up having an effect on the state's economy.
"The fallout from those lawsuits I think will have an impact in the private sector. You know, certainly the federal government is a major consumer for corporations. So if you have layoffs, not only the layoffs but also the cutbacks with respect to grant money you may .. many are anticipating it will result in layoffs in the private sector," said Phelan.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, ranking member of the U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, says of the more than ten thousand federal employees in Connecticut, more than 40% work for the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs.
Blumenthal says these layoffs will have a direct effect on our veterans.
"I am appalled and deeply alarmed by the prospect of additional workforce cuts that will affect veterans in Connecticut and receiving benefits and health care, both may be delayed and denied as a result of these slashing cuts in the federal workforce," said Blumenthal.
Roughly 80% of federal workers live outside Washington, and government services — patent approvals, food inspections, park maintenance and more — could be hindered depending on how cuts are handled.
Agencies are directed to submit by March 13 their plans for what is known as a reduction in force, which would not only lay off employees but eliminate the position altogether.
The result could be extensive changes in how government functions. Thousands of federal employees were already laid off earlier this month.
