River Bend Times

In Washington, D.C., U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley has called upon the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to release documents from various agencies and departments regarding plans to implement large-scale reductions in federal workforces. Senator Merkley expressed concern over these directives, issued by the OMB in February, stating their potential for widespread job losses among federal employees.

"The February 26 memo’s directives enable further disastrous mass firings of federal employees. The Trump Administration has already fired tens of thousands of civil servants at several agencies, many of which have been deemed illegal by the courts," wrote Ranking Member Merkley.

Senator Merkley highlighted the risks associated with these workforce reductions, noting potential impacts on public services essential to communities nationwide. Among the areas affected are the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs, both of which face significant staffing cuts. "Unfortunately, the list of reckless firings provided here is far from exhaustive. These mass firings will not only undermine the ability of federal agencies to fulfill their missions but will also further erode public trust in government services," he added.

In February, Merkley, Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray, and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters sought clarity on a related OMB memo from January. This memo instructed federal agencies to suspend activities associated with financial assistance distribution.

Senator Merkley has requested that the documents pertaining to the February memo, including agency reduction and reorganization plans, be submitted to the Senate Budget Committee for review. He emphasized the need for transparency in the process of federal workforce adjustments.

"Therefore, I am requesting all documents that OMB has already received, as well as documents received in the future, from agencies and departments in response to the February 26 memo," he stated.

Merkley's letter also addressed precedents set by previous rounds of firings, which he argued have targeted experienced professionals crucial to agency stability.