Donald Trump celebrated the elimination of federal jobs in a recent Truth Social post, sharing a screenshot from the White House’s Rapid Response account that noted the lowest level of government job positions since 2014, with 271,000 roles abolished. This occurred after Trump’s election in 2024, during which he appointed Elon Musk to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a group purposed with making major cuts to the government. Though Musk left the DOGE in May, and the OPM Director later stated the organization no longer exists, government workers continue to lose jobs. Despite these actions, the unemployment rate in November was 4.6%, and Trump’s approval rating among Americans is only at 39%.
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Federal labor unions have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that its new “merit hiring plan” violates applicants’ First Amendment rights. The plan includes an essay question asking how applicants would advance the president’s agenda, which the unions argue creates an unconstitutional, politically-driven hiring system. Currently, the “loyalty question” is part of over 6,000 federal job postings, leading the unions to request a preliminary injunction to prevent its use. Federal employees have submitted anonymous declarations expressing concerns that the question infringes on their rights and could lead to retaliation.
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A new National Park Service report reveals that 325.5 million visitors to national parks in 2023 generated a record-high $55.6 billion in economic output for the U.S. This spending supported 415,400 jobs and $19.4 billion in labor income. The lodging and restaurant sectors were the largest beneficiaries, contributing $9.9 billion and $5.2 billion respectively. The report utilizes improved data for enhanced accuracy and is accessible online via an interactive tool.
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The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is enacting widespread cuts to federal jobs and services nationwide, impacting numerous critical sectors including veterans’ care, Social Security, and public health. These cuts, driven by the Trump-Musk administration, disproportionately affect federal workers outside of Washington D.C., resulting in office closures and job losses across states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Nevada. This action is ostensibly to fund tax cuts for the wealthy, leaving many loyal, long-serving employees, including veterans, unemployed and questioning their service’s value. The resulting job losses are predicted to significantly stress the national labor market.
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John Q. Hosedrinker