Andrea Hsu

So there are federal workers who also have elected positions within their labor unions, and they feel somewhat protected speaking in that capacity. And one person I met is Sharia Smith. She's an attorney with the Department of Education, and she's also president of the That's the union that represents about 2,800 Education Department employees. And here's what Sharia Smith said.

So there are federal workers who also have elected positions within their labor unions, and they feel somewhat protected speaking in that capacity. And one person I met is Sharia Smith. She's an attorney with the Department of Education, and she's also president of the That's the union that represents about 2,800 Education Department employees. And here's what Sharia Smith said.

So there are federal workers who also have elected positions within their labor unions, and they feel somewhat protected speaking in that capacity. And one person I met is Sharia Smith. She's an attorney with the Department of Education, and she's also president of the That's the union that represents about 2,800 Education Department employees. And here's what Sharia Smith said.

This was before the layoffs began.

This was before the layoffs began.

This was before the layoffs began.

And, Andrew, the services she's talking about, you know, the Department of Education has people who help with things like financial aid and special education. And, you know, recent hires in those departments were among dozens of probationary employees that we heard had gotten laid off last week. And Smith herself is an attorney in the Office of Civil Rights.

And, Andrew, the services she's talking about, you know, the Department of Education has people who help with things like financial aid and special education. And, you know, recent hires in those departments were among dozens of probationary employees that we heard had gotten laid off last week. And Smith herself is an attorney in the Office of Civil Rights.

And, Andrew, the services she's talking about, you know, the Department of Education has people who help with things like financial aid and special education. And, you know, recent hires in those departments were among dozens of probationary employees that we heard had gotten laid off last week. And Smith herself is an attorney in the Office of Civil Rights.

That's the office that makes sure that students from elementary school all the way up into college, they get the educational accommodations that they are entitled to under the law. So Sheree Smith is really worried that if this downsizing continues, she's worried about what's going to happen to the families who need help.

That's the office that makes sure that students from elementary school all the way up into college, they get the educational accommodations that they are entitled to under the law. So Sheree Smith is really worried that if this downsizing continues, she's worried about what's going to happen to the families who need help.

That's the office that makes sure that students from elementary school all the way up into college, they get the educational accommodations that they are entitled to under the law. So Sheree Smith is really worried that if this downsizing continues, she's worried about what's going to happen to the families who need help.

Yeah, you know, she is really worried if it's going to continue. She's even said there's talk about moving the Education Department's Office of Civil Rights to the Justice Department. So she wonders if regular people will still have the ability to take their complaints to someone in the government.

Yeah, you know, she is really worried if it's going to continue. She's even said there's talk about moving the Education Department's Office of Civil Rights to the Justice Department. So she wonders if regular people will still have the ability to take their complaints to someone in the government.

Yeah, you know, she is really worried if it's going to continue. She's even said there's talk about moving the Education Department's Office of Civil Rights to the Justice Department. So she wonders if regular people will still have the ability to take their complaints to someone in the government.

And yeah, and she says that dozens of people in her office, in the Office of Civil Rights, were put on paid administrative leave already. after Trump signed that executive order banning DEI programs in the federal government. She says these were people just doing their regular jobs, not running any kind of DEI specific initiative.

And yeah, and she says that dozens of people in her office, in the Office of Civil Rights, were put on paid administrative leave already. after Trump signed that executive order banning DEI programs in the federal government. She says these were people just doing their regular jobs, not running any kind of DEI specific initiative.

And yeah, and she says that dozens of people in her office, in the Office of Civil Rights, were put on paid administrative leave already. after Trump signed that executive order banning DEI programs in the federal government. She says these were people just doing their regular jobs, not running any kind of DEI specific initiative.

Yeah, that is also underway, and it's also like all of this quite chaotic. Some employees have been given dates to return to the office. Others, including people who have been fully remote, have been told they need to go back to an office, but where is still unclear. Okay.

Yeah, that is also underway, and it's also like all of this quite chaotic. Some employees have been given dates to return to the office. Others, including people who have been fully remote, have been told they need to go back to an office, but where is still unclear. Okay.