The newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has set out to decrease federal spending and “weed out the corruption” by downsizing the nation’s largest employer by at least 10%. While the details surrounding alleged corruption remain opaque, one thing is clear: Elon Musk and his enablers are gleefully dismantling the public sector at the expense of working people.
Under Musk, a special government employee and the world’s wealthiest man, DOGE (at press time) has enacted the largest mass layoff in American history, firing upwards of 200,000 employees and promising tens of thousands more with promised buyouts in an attempt to “reform” the federal bureaucracy.
Serious threat to economy
The hasty and sporadic way with which employees are being let go poses a serious threat to the U.S. economy by compromising the government’s ability to carry out essential duties.
Our 25,000 UFCW 99 members work in a wide range of employment sectors, from retail grocery to food processing to non-profits and many others. While the jobs we do vary greatly between workplaces, our members all share one thing in common: We all depend on the federal government to do its jobs. To name a few:
- We depend on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to keep stores stocked with food and medicine that’s safe to consume.
- We rely on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support American farmers and ranchers and keep dairy, meat, eggs and food safe.
- We count on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to collect the taxes that fund essential public services like social security, emergency responders, education, national defense and much more.
As the federal workforce continues to be reduced, so, too, does its capacity to carry out these vital functions in a timely manner. This could lead to supply chain bottlenecks that will, in time, leave store shelves empty and cause prices to rise even higher.
The impact is still mostly unknown, but what we do know is it will be felt most acutely by working families who simply cannot afford another economic downturn.
Furthermore, these abrupt and mass layoffs have already weakened consumer confidence, which means the average customer will be inclined to spend less on their next trip to the grocery store. This will have an outsized effect in states like Utah and Arizona, where, respectively, 33,000 and 34,000 federal government employees live and work. Meanwhile, many of those laid off will be forced to rely on social safety nets, ironically placing even greater pressure on the very government agencies that Musk and his allies claim to be making more efficient.
The consequences of this reckless downsizing extend beyond economic instability. Regulatory agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Department of Labor (DOL) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) are being gutted, leaving fewer guardrails to ensure that workers are safe on the job and treated with dignity.
This is not just a battle over numbers on a spreadsheet. DOGE’s reckless cuts are a direct attack on working families and our ability to provide stability for ourselves and our families.
Public sector not for profit
The public sector is not a for-profit venture to be gutted and sold off to the highest bidder like a private business. It exists to serve the citizens of our country, to provide essential services and to maintain a fair and functioning society. The destruction of these institutions stands only to benefit the ultra-wealthy, while leaving working people behind.
Your union is closely monitoring these developments and advocating for policies that protect the rights and well-being of all workers. We believe in the importance of fair treatment and job security for everyone, regardless of their political beliefs or educational background.
In these challenging times, it’s crucial that we stand together and support one another. By staying informed and engaged, we can work toward a future where all workers are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Thank you for your continued dedication and hard work. Now, more than ever, we must demand accountability from those in power. Our livelihoods, our communities and our economic futures depend on it.
