Federal workers fear Trump will fire them after court ruling: ‘We are toast’

The Washington Post ^ | July 9, 2025 | Hannah Natanson and Meryl Kornfield

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Some federal workers cried. Some shook their heads and began updating their resumes. Others — including union leaders — vowed to fight, determined to hang on to the government jobs that many took because they wanted to serve the American public.

After the Supreme Court allowed President Donald Trump on Tuesday to resume firing government workers, federal employees rushed to Signal group chats and anxious phone calls, trying to figure out what it meant for them. The court lifted a lower-court order that had temporarily blocked the administration’s plans to lay off thousands of federal workers, including at the State Department and the Social Security Administration, because the administration did not first consult with Congress. But few details were immediately available.

Litigation will continue as the layoffs proceed at 19 agencies, according to the ruling, which drew dissents from two liberal justices. It marks the latest upheaval in a chaotic half year of Trump-driven downsizings of federal departments, which spurred lawsuits and court-ordered halts — followed by still other court counterorders resuming the federal dismissals.

The ruling may also usher in a new phase of more professionalized layoffs, as opposed to the rapid, error-filled slashing undertaken in the early months of the Trump administration by often very young members of the U.S. DOGE Service, a cost-cutting team set up by billionaire Elon Musk. Musk has since departed government, and DOGE’s influence has waned after the group’s public image tanked. Many of its signature efforts have backfired — for example, over long wait times at a diminished Social Security Administration — and have drawn lawsuits.

Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling, though, paves the way for agencies themselves to carry out Trump’s executive order requiring the government to plan and execute mass dismissals and restructurings. A key force behind...

[kosciusko51]

Boo hoo. Your sinecure is no longer.

[TheThirdRuffian]

“ hang on to the government jobs that many took because they wanted to serve the American public”

ROFLmao

[dadgum]

Buh bye, deadwood useless paper pushing leeches.

[MinorityRepublican]

If they didn't go after Trump in his first term, I wouldn't be in favor of Trump firing them. I'll advocate for a hiring freeze instead.

But because they went after Trump, yeah they need to be laid off.

[maddog55]

To bad he couldn’t fire folks in the MSM.

The government could do far better with at least a 50% reduction. Maybe even 75% reduction.

[Tell It Right]

[freepertoo]

I worked as a legal assistant in DC for 45 years. Endured a few layoffs through the years. My friends in the government always told me I should get a federal job for security.

[Dr. Sivana]

determined to hang on to the government jobs that many took because they wanted to serve the American public.

Really? That's not the vibe I get when I interact with them.
"So, Trudy, why would you like to be an Assistant Project Manager for FFIEC Demographics Tracking Division?"
"Well, Miss Burns, I always had a burning desire to serve the general public by compiling the numbers by December that are supposed to go out (by law) in July. It is my way of serving the great people of this country. Besides, the banks are required to send the information in two months, but we get to diddle with it for almost eight. What fun!"

[rktman]

Do your job as written in your job description plus a little extra in a non partisan manner and you could be okay.

[BHI2025]

For later

[marktwain]

I was a career civil servant. I retired from the civil service (in the Department of Defense) 13 years ago. Every year of service, I wondered if my job would be terminated.

No job is entirely secure. Even if you own you own company, the market can shift, there is technological innovation, there is competition, there is government regulation.

The insanity of state government enforcement of COVID19 restrictions drove many small businesses out of business.

We all take risks, all of the time, but even federal bureaucrats need to know no job is 100% secure.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I love toast.

[DugwayDuke]

No, the Supreme Court did not allow President Donald Trump on Tuesday to resume firing government workers. The Supreme Court allowed President Trump to begin planning to fire government workers.

[HIDEK6]

Make it so.

[dennisw]

They had a great work from home scam for years. Especially the Federal workers in the greater DC region. Now comes the karmic blowback.

They can still sit on asses at home but soon it will be without a paycheck

[cgbg]

Here are some numbers for you:

https://layoffs.fyi/

[Hammerhead]

What century are you living in with respect to remote job work? It is the height of efficiency. Just because you work a job that does not allow you to work. Remote doesn’t mean that remote work is not the future. It’s not very efficient sitting in a three hours worth of rush-hour traffic, having to take off all day because you have to wait for the Verizon repairman to come to your house, doctors appointments, late for work because of traffic everything else. Get your head out of your ass. It’s 2025.

[mass55th]

Should have been looking for another job all this time.

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

Just how many of these Federal “workers” are still lounging at home in their pajamas?

After they are laid off, they will still be able to lounge 24/7 in their pajamas. Also, there are several employment websites where all of the openings are remote-work job listings.

Surely your many years of Federal employment from home have honed your skills at getting the job done! /sarc, sarc, sarc