Andrea Hsu

But then the administration released this new memo saying, well, agencies have the right to set telework policies and those collective bargaining agreements will not be enforced. Hmm. So the unions are preparing to fight this. I talked with Rich Couture. He's president of AFGE Council 215. That's the union representing workers at the Social Security Administration.

But then the administration released this new memo saying, well, agencies have the right to set telework policies and those collective bargaining agreements will not be enforced. Hmm. So the unions are preparing to fight this. I talked with Rich Couture. He's president of AFGE Council 215. That's the union representing workers at the Social Security Administration.

But then the administration released this new memo saying, well, agencies have the right to set telework policies and those collective bargaining agreements will not be enforced. Hmm. So the unions are preparing to fight this. I talked with Rich Couture. He's president of AFGE Council 215. That's the union representing workers at the Social Security Administration.

You know, they just signed a five-year contract right before Thanksgiving that had a pretty generous telework agreement in it. And, you know, Couture says if that's not going to be honored, people are going to leave. They know this because they did surveys around telework, you know, while they were negotiating that contract.

You know, they just signed a five-year contract right before Thanksgiving that had a pretty generous telework agreement in it. And, you know, Couture says if that's not going to be honored, people are going to leave. They know this because they did surveys around telework, you know, while they were negotiating that contract.

You know, they just signed a five-year contract right before Thanksgiving that had a pretty generous telework agreement in it. And, you know, Couture says if that's not going to be honored, people are going to leave. They know this because they did surveys around telework, you know, while they were negotiating that contract.

And I pressed him a little bit on this, Andrew, because, you know, you always hear members of Congress complain that Americans aren't getting good service, you know, for things like Social Security because people aren't showing up in the office. And Rich Couture said, you know, actually, they have seen improved productivity with some of these telework policies in place.

And I pressed him a little bit on this, Andrew, because, you know, you always hear members of Congress complain that Americans aren't getting good service, you know, for things like Social Security because people aren't showing up in the office. And Rich Couture said, you know, actually, they have seen improved productivity with some of these telework policies in place.

And I pressed him a little bit on this, Andrew, because, you know, you always hear members of Congress complain that Americans aren't getting good service, you know, for things like Social Security because people aren't showing up in the office. And Rich Couture said, you know, actually, they have seen improved productivity with some of these telework policies in place.

And he says, besides, you know, the people who are teleworking, they're not the ones who provide the face-to-face service anyway. He gave an example of the people who answer phones.

And he says, besides, you know, the people who are teleworking, they're not the ones who provide the face-to-face service anyway. He gave an example of the people who answer phones.

And he says, besides, you know, the people who are teleworking, they're not the ones who provide the face-to-face service anyway. He gave an example of the people who answer phones.

So he's worried that this light speed downsizing of the government could lead to a collapse of their ability to serve the public. And he's also really worried about what he calls the real possibility of workers at the Social Security Administration being replaced by artificial intelligence. Yeah.

So he's worried that this light speed downsizing of the government could lead to a collapse of their ability to serve the public. And he's also really worried about what he calls the real possibility of workers at the Social Security Administration being replaced by artificial intelligence. Yeah.

So he's worried that this light speed downsizing of the government could lead to a collapse of their ability to serve the public. And he's also really worried about what he calls the real possibility of workers at the Social Security Administration being replaced by artificial intelligence. Yeah.

Yeah, I would say very, very few. I have had people say, like you said, you know, there are systems that don't work as well as they should. Things could be more efficient. Maybe there are some people who aren't being utilized to their potential. But they also say there's a way to downsize the government, and that's not what we're seeing now. You know, people point to President Clinton.

Yeah, I would say very, very few. I have had people say, like you said, you know, there are systems that don't work as well as they should. Things could be more efficient. Maybe there are some people who aren't being utilized to their potential. But they also say there's a way to downsize the government, and that's not what we're seeing now. You know, people point to President Clinton.

Yeah, I would say very, very few. I have had people say, like you said, you know, there are systems that don't work as well as they should. Things could be more efficient. Maybe there are some people who aren't being utilized to their potential. But they also say there's a way to downsize the government, and that's not what we're seeing now. You know, people point to President Clinton.

He oversaw a significant downsizing of the federal workforce, but it took place over years and it involved, you know, studies to figure out where the cuts could be made. Right now, everything feels like it's happening on the fly. You know, Trump has been in the White House not even a month yet. And this has just been so unsettling. I'll end with one more person I met at that rally, Aaron Barker.

He oversaw a significant downsizing of the federal workforce, but it took place over years and it involved, you know, studies to figure out where the cuts could be made. Right now, everything feels like it's happening on the fly. You know, Trump has been in the White House not even a month yet. And this has just been so unsettling. I'll end with one more person I met at that rally, Aaron Barker.