Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) has introduced legislation to prevent the Trump Administration from carrying out its plans to fire federal employees en masse during the ongoing government shutdown.
Last week, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought announced the Trump Administration would take advantage of the shutdown to cut nonessential employees from the federal workforce.
Representative Mike Haridopolos (R-FL) suggested that one concern that should be addressed "is some of the foreign policy money that we spent."
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick's bill, the Stop Stealing Our Jobs Act, affirms that neither the President nor the Head of an Executive agency may remove any employee, including as part of a reduction in force.
"Federal employees are dedicated public servants who ensure seniors and veterans receive the benefits and healthcare they deserve, keep our communities safe and healthy, and manage programs that help lower costs for working families," Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick said in a statement. "They're the heartbeat of our government and the backbone of our nation. Using a government shutdown to fire hardworking federal workers is unprecedented and cruel."
The Florida Congresswoman further noted that "mass layoffs would devastate the economy and drive up costs for families in Florida and across the country." Addressing "the over 7,000 federal workers in Florida's 20th Congressional District," she vowed to "not let shutdown politics rip away your paycheck and food from your table."
Meanwhile, Representative Aaron Bean (R-FL) has introduced or sponsored three bills to prevent the salaries of specific federal employees from being suspended during government shutdowns.
The first was for air traffic controllers and key Federal Aviation Administration personnel, while the second ensures the military continues to receive its pay.
Rep. Bean's Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act protects the wages of USCIS Immigration Officers, ICE Deportation Officers, TSA Federal Air Marshals, Border Patrol agents, Secret Service agents, and the personnel responsible for distributing those wages.
