Not all Republicans are standing by Donald Trump’s mass federal firings.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) criticized the administration’s reduction-in-force order, arguing it’s doing “more harm than good.” While she supports downsizing the federal government, she said the abrupt firings are disrupting essential services.
“Dozens” of Alaskans, possibly over 100, have lost their jobs, Murkowski noted, which could hinder disaster preparedness and energy production. “Many of these abrupt terminations will do more harm than good, stunting opportunities in Alaska and leaving holes in our communities,” she wrote on Twitter.
Dozens of Alaskans – potentially over 100 in total – are being fired as part of the Trump administration’s reduction-in-force order for the federal government.
Many of these abrupt terminations will do more harm than good, stunting opportunities in Alaska and leaving holes in…
— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) February 15, 2025
The senator warned that cuts to federal agencies could weaken wildfire response efforts and harm Alaska’s tourism economy. “We will be less prepared to manage summer wildfires if we can’t support those on the front lines,” she said.
Trump, backed by Elon Musk, is leading the charge to trim the federal workforce through layoffs and buyout programs. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has directed agencies to terminate probationary employees.
The impact is already visible—the Department of Veterans Affairs fired 1,000 workers, the Department of the Interior cut 2,300 jobs, and Health and Human Services plans to lay off 5,200 more. Other agencies, including the EPA and CFPB, have also slashed staff.
Murkowski fears the rapid cuts are causing “confusion, anxiety, and now trauma” among federal workers. “Indiscriminate workforce cuts aren’t efficient,” she said, adding they “will hurt good people.”
She vowed to press for answers, saying the administration’s response has been “evasive and inadequate.”
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