Andrea Hsu

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's with the Transportation Safety Administration, and he's also president of the AFG Local 554, which represents TSA officers at the Atlanta airport. You know, he told me his members are losing sleep over everything that's happening. They're worried about their jobs, their families. You know, they're worried about will they be able to get the government services they rely on.

He's with the Transportation Safety Administration, and he's also president of the AFG Local 554, which represents TSA officers at the Atlanta airport. You know, he told me his members are losing sleep over everything that's happening. They're worried about their jobs, their families. You know, they're worried about will they be able to get the government services they rely on.

He's with the Transportation Safety Administration, and he's also president of the AFG Local 554, which represents TSA officers at the Atlanta airport. You know, he told me his members are losing sleep over everything that's happening. They're worried about their jobs, their families. You know, they're worried about will they be able to get the government services they rely on.

These are the people that are running the security checkpoints at the airport, so probably not the people you want distracted by everything going on. So, you know, Aaron Barker had this request.

These are the people that are running the security checkpoints at the airport, so probably not the people you want distracted by everything going on. So, you know, Aaron Barker had this request.

These are the people that are running the security checkpoints at the airport, so probably not the people you want distracted by everything going on. So, you know, Aaron Barker had this request.

You know, a lot of people might hear federal workers and think Washington, D.C., but actually 80 percent of federal workers work outside the Washington, D.C. area. So chances are pretty good that, you know, everyone listening might know someone who's a federal worker, someone in your community or at your church or maybe it's your neighbor.

You know, a lot of people might hear federal workers and think Washington, D.C., but actually 80 percent of federal workers work outside the Washington, D.C. area. So chances are pretty good that, you know, everyone listening might know someone who's a federal worker, someone in your community or at your church or maybe it's your neighbor.

You know, a lot of people might hear federal workers and think Washington, D.C., but actually 80 percent of federal workers work outside the Washington, D.C. area. So chances are pretty good that, you know, everyone listening might know someone who's a federal worker, someone in your community or at your church or maybe it's your neighbor.

And so these are all people who are going through a lot right now.

And so these are all people who are going through a lot right now.

And so these are all people who are going through a lot right now.

Thank you, Andrew.

Thank you, Andrew.

Thank you, Andrew.

The Trump administration had given workers a choice. They could offer their resignations now in exchange for pay and benefits through the end of September. The expectation was they'd be on leave most of that time. Or they could remain in their positions and risk being laid off as Trump downsizes the federal workforce.

The Trump administration had given workers a choice. They could offer their resignations now in exchange for pay and benefits through the end of September. The expectation was they'd be on leave most of that time. Or they could remain in their positions and risk being laid off as Trump downsizes the federal workforce.

Labor unions representing civil servants asked the court to block the offer, calling it unlawful. U.S. District Judge George O'Toole declined that request, finding that the unions didn't have standing to bring the case because they are not directly affected. He did not rule on the legality of the deferred resignation program. The unions called the ruling a setback, but not the end of the fight.

Labor unions representing civil servants asked the court to block the offer, calling it unlawful. U.S. District Judge George O'Toole declined that request, finding that the unions didn't have standing to bring the case because they are not directly affected. He did not rule on the legality of the deferred resignation program. The unions called the ruling a setback, but not the end of the fight.