AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler responded to a recent Supreme Court order that permits the Trump administration to proceed with plans for a Reduction in Force (RIF), potentially resulting in the dismissal of hundreds of thousands of federal employees. The decision comes amidst ongoing litigation regarding these actions.
Shuler stated, “The Trump administration and its unaccountable DOGE have created chaos in hundreds of thousands of federal workers’ lives, and the Supreme Court just heaped on more pain.” She emphasized the roles these workers play in various essential services, including veteran care, food safety, public health, disaster response, education support, and water quality assurance.
She further commented on the public’s stance against this decision: “The American people do not support this. By a 2-1 margin, people oppose the reckless firing of federal workers.” Shuler noted that a significant percentage of federal employees reside outside Washington D.C., with many being veterans. The impact on working families nationwide is expected to be substantial.
Despite the setback from the court’s decision, Shuler assured continued efforts to protect federal workers’ rights and support union activities. “This decision is a blow,” she said, “but the litigation in this case—and the fight for federal workers and the essential services they provide—is far from over.”
The AFL-CIO intends to persist in organizing efforts and reinforcing union contracts as crucial measures during this period.
