Former federal workers expressed shock and frustration Friday after losing their jobs due to sweeping layoffs by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The cuts, backed by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, aim to reduce the nation’s $2 trillion deficit. Critics argue the move endangers essential services, including rural fire departments and food assistance programs.
At a roundtable led by Rep. Paul Tonko, affected workers described sudden, after-hours terminations, with no regard for job performance. Scientific research and tax processing were among the disrupted fields. Courts are reviewing the legality of these cuts, and Democrats plan to challenge them. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers in New York are pushing for similar state-level budget reductions.
One laid-off worker, who voted for Trump, now regrets their decision, realizing their job was among those sacrificed for cost-cutting measures.
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