Senator Chris Van Hollen, leading a group of Democratic lawmakers from Maryland and Virginia, held a news conference Tuesday outside the Office of Management and Budget to condemn the White House and Republicans for the government shutdown and its effect on federal workers.
“When Donald Trump shuts down the federal government, the Maryland and Virginia delegation come together and step up,” Van Hollen said, highlighting the large number of federal employees residing in the area.
He accused the administration of escalating its tactics beyond those used in previous shutdowns. “In previous shutdowns, federal workers got furloughed. They did not get fired,” Van Hollen stated, pointing to layoff notices recently issued to federal staff. Last Friday, the administration confirmed that seven agencies had begun sending reduction-in-force notices to over 4,000 employees.
Van Hollen characterized this as a deliberate strategy, saying the administration is “using this moment to terrorize these patriotic federal employees.” He added, “Firing and threatening to fire federal employees is part of the Trump administration’s campaign to inflict trauma on our federal workforce.”
The senator praised the vital services provided by federal employees, noting they “support our veterans, they help make sure our food and water is safe,” and “help develop treatments and cures to diseases.” He argued that when President Trump and OMB Director Russ Vought attack these workers, “they are attacking the American people.”
Van Hollen concluded with a demand for the administration to “stop attacking federal employees, stop attacking the American people, and start negotiating to reopen the federal government.”
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