WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — With President-Elect Donald Trump heading back to the White House, the fate of some federal workers in the D.C. area remains uncertain.
“What we’ll see in the short term is an answer to the question of exactly what is the plan that the Trump administration wants to put forward regarding federal workers,” said Dr. Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington.
Under his Agenda 47 plan, which Trump laid out on the campaign trail, Trump is proposing to relocate 100,000 federal jobs out of the District, Maryland and Virginia.
And, under the right-wing Project 2025 plan—which Trump has distanced himself from—are proposals to overhaul the federal government and eliminate civil servant positions.
“One of the things that was talked about a lot in that 2025 booklet was shrinking the federal government. Moving some of the federal government’s responsibility, moving some of the federal jobs to other parts of the country,” said Farnsworth. “So, there is the possibility we can be looking at a pretty tumultuous time for federal employment, federal contractors and the likes.”
Farnsworth said it would be a wait-and-see for many federal workers. However, he said the most immediate impact will be felt by staff members on Capitol Hill who will be impacted by a change in party majority.
In a statement put out Wednesday, American Federation of Government Employees National President, Everett Kelley, said members will continue to do their jobs regardless of who is in the White House.
“But make no mistake: our union will not stand by and let any political leader – regardless of their political affiliation – run roughshod over the Constitution and our laws,” he said. “During President Trump’s first term, his administration attempted to gut many of our negotiated union contracts, downsize and relocate federal agencies at great disruption and cost to taxpayers, and replace tens of thousands of non-partisan civil servants with political appointees who would blindly do his bidding.”
The organization represents nearly 800,000 federal and D.C. government employees and endorsed Kamala Harris for president.
Meanwhile, leadership with the ACLU of D.C. is also speaking out about the potential impact Trump’s second term will have on D.C. statehood.
“We will not mince words: a second Trump Administration and an anti-D.C. Congress are a grave threat to our rights and self-governance in the District,” said Executive Director Monica Hopkins. “Trump and his allies have threatened to ‘take over’ D.C. by calling in the National Guard or even by repealing our right to Home Rule. We will now be on the defensive, protecting the basic rights and freedoms that are rightfully ours.”
Trump made his victory speech early Wednesday morning after securing the needed 270 electoral votes.
“I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president,” said Trump. “We’ve been through so much together, and today you showed up in record numbers to deliver a victory. This was something special and we’re going to pay you back.”
