Luján Statement on Trump Administration Using Shutdown As Cover to Conduct Mass Firings

Trump, Vought cause shutdown, use it to fire hard-working federal employees and inflict maximum pain on the American people

President Trump: "We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible and bad for them like cutting vast numbers of people out. Cutting things they like, cutting programs they like."

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after an announcement was made by the Trump administration that mass layoffs have begun at federal agencies:

"President Trump and Russ Vought are weaponizing their own shutdown to push their extreme agenda of dismantling the federal government. Let's be clear: nothing is forcing them to carry out these mass firings - they are choosing to inflict maximum pain on the American people.

"All year long, we've watched as President Trump and Russ Vought have taken a wrecking ball to the federal workforce - recklessly firing essential employees, only to quietly rehire them when the damage is done. Now, they are using the shutdown as cover to resort to the same playbook and fire hard-working civil servants in a deliberate, harmful political stunt.

"Republicans chose to shut down the government. Now, they're using the livelihoods of federal workers as bargaining chips to capitalize on the pain they are inflicting on the American people. Make no mistake, these mass firings will have detrimental implications on the health, safety, and security of all Americans. It's time for President Trump and Republicans to work with Democrats to end this government shutdown, address the health care crisis they created, and stop these mass firings."

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