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MINUTE 2025.3.16-1: Concerning Reductions in the Federal Workforce

Granville Friends Meeting (Quakers, Religious Society of Friends) feels deep concern for the thousands of federal workers who have abruptly lost their livelihoods in the recent indiscriminate mass firings, and for the loss of the valuable work they do.  We recognize that sudden and unexpected job loss coupled with the high and rising costs of necessities including food and housing may seriously impact the health and welfare of these federal employees and their families.  Likewise, the sudden and unexpected curtailment of the services these federal workers have provided will result in harm to vulnerable populations at home and abroad, as well as cause negative economic consequences in our nation and increase risks to public safety and environmental degradation.  We provide three examples here, but hold in mindful concern all federal workers and their families and all peoples negatively impacted by these mass firings.

The dismantling of USAID and the programs it administers will deprive U.S. farmers of an estimated $2 billion in sales, among other harms.  “According to a former deputy assistant administrator at USAID’s Feed the Future program, the agency purchased 1.1 million metric tons of food from U.S. farmers and ranchers last fiscal year, including sorghum, corn, beans, rice and vegetable oil, for distribution to 45 million people in need of emergency food and acute nutrition assistance in 35 countries”. USAID Dismantling: What It Means for Farmers and Ag Research - AgWeb 

Mass firings of 2,300 employees from the Department of Interior including 1,000 National Park Service staff, as well as cuts of 3,400 from the U.S. Forest Service will make it difficult to adequately manage and protect these valuable national resources. Hiking trails and facilities such as visitor centers will deteriorate. Wildfires will cause greater destruction for the lack of trained firefighters.  These agencies were already understaffed; prior to the workforce cuts, national park operations staff had already fallen by 20 percent since 2010 according the National Parks Conservation Association, while cuts to the U.S. Forest Service represent 10 percent of its workforce. Impact of firings on Colorado national parks, forest service workers, DOGE cuts are screwing up summer travel plans already     

Initial mass firings of nearly 600 employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) followed by the dismissal of another 1,000 employees puts us all at risk by disrupting the network of meteorologists who detect severe weather threats and provide early warnings of earthquakes, wildfires and other natural disasters.  How job cuts at NOAA could impact weather forecasting - ABC News    

As Quakers, we seek a world that recognizes that of God in every person; a world that offers every person the opportunity to fulfill their potential. The mass firing of federal workers disrupts the ability of these workers to fulfill their potential, it robs these hard-working employees of dignity and respect, and it drives negative economic and health consequences for them and their families.  Because of the complicated and sometimes hidden connections that exist among people—connections showcased in our examples—the mass firing of federal workers is likely to cause harm to everyday Americans and disrupt the important work and services of the government.  

Thus, the Granville Friends Meeting holds in the Light of God these workers, their families, and all connected peoples.  We call on our three branches of the Federal Government to work cooperatively to build a society that supports all people, and a government that enables everyone the opportunity to fulfill their potential and provides the government services needed to support the well-being of all people.