Key Allies Push Back as President Trump Pushes Project 2025 Agenda

Despite denying any connection to Project 2025 on the campaign trail, President Trump has signed numerous executive orders and memos in the first few weeks of his second term that align closely with Project 2025 recommendations.  These include reissuing "Schedule F" (now called Schedule Policy/Career), removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from federal agencies, ending telework programs, telling agencies to reverse recently signed collective bargaining agreements, and attempting to roll back funding approved by Congress. And President Trump’s nominee Russell Vought—one of the lead authors of Project 2025—was just confirmed by the Senate to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Federal agencies are in chaos as they attempt to comply with new directives issued without warning. Employees face potential layoffs and a hostile work environment, with daily harassment pushing them to quit. Elon Musk seems to have been given unfettered access to agencies’ computer systems under the guise of finding “efficiencies” and, in the middle of all of this, employees received the condescending “Fork in the Road” email urging them to quit, making dubious promises about continuing to receive pay and benefits for months. 

Members of Congress Speaking Out

This immediate onslaught of anti-worker, anti-union and anti-government policies has obviously sparked fear and uncertainty among federal employees, but it has also sparked public outrage as many Americans question whether some of these actions are illegal or even unconstitutional. Members of Congress have been speaking out in support of federal employees on the House and Senate floors, at town hall meetings and in the media. 

This week, 25 members of the House Labor Caucus held the House floor to highlight the important work that federal employees do and call out the baseless attacks and union-busting from the Trump Administration. 

Here are just a few recent statements of support from Members of Congress:

"This is an outright attack on our federal workforce and the services they provide to the American people. We will not stand by while President Trump dismantles our government piece by piece." Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX)

"President Trump's actions are not just unconstitutional; they are un-American. We must fight back against this blatant power grab." Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX)

"The federal workforce is not a political pawn. These executive orders are designed to intimidate and harass dedicated public servants. We will challenge these actions in every possible way."  Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA)

"This administration's actions are a direct threat to our democracy. We must uphold the principles of checks and balances and protect our federal employees."  Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)

"The erosion of civil service protections is a dangerous precedent. We cannot allow the executive branch to wield unchecked power."  Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)

"This is an unprecedented assault on the federal workforce. We will fight to ensure that our government remains accountable to the people." Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)

“Efficiency in government should be a goal for every administration, agency, and federal employee. But how we achieve it also matters. By circumventing proper channels and procedures and creating the potential to compromise the sensitive data of Americans, we create a tremendous amount of unnecessary anxiety. That is wrong. Good governance is based on trust, not fear.” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

NTEU Taking Action

Your union is actively fighting back in the courts, in the media and on Capitol Hill to garner bipartisan support to protect federal employees and to keep the federal government working for all Americans.

We Need YOU, your friends, and your family to take action TODAY!  Write and call your members of Congress. Visit the NTEU ACTION CENTER to reach out to your elected representatives!