Trump, GOP Leaders In Congress Plan Big Bite Out of Workforce

The unions that represent hundreds of thousands of Federal civil-service workers are bracing for a Donald Trump presidency at a time when his fellow Republicans control both houses of Congress and the White House, with hiring freezes and bids to make it easier to fire employees while also reducing their compensation reportedly under serious discussion.

Throughout his campaign, the President-elect made shrinking the size and scope of the Federal workforce and mission the foundation of his plan to restore a broad-based national prosperity to “make America great again.” Specifically, in a “Contract for the American Voter” speech late in the campaign, he called for a hiring freeze on all Federal employees except for jobs in the military and those rela­ted to public safety and public health.