JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Civilian federal jobs are being cut by the thousands, as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency continues to shrink the government workforce at the behest of President Donald Trump.
But we know a federal judge found that the mass firings of probationary federal employees were likely unlawful.
The court granted some temporary relief to a coalition of labor unions and organizations that has sued to stop the Trump administration’s massive firings across the federal workforce.
It puts one of the most comprehensive pauses so far on the administration’s ability to cut any more jobs.
It does not blunt the fact, however, that Musk and DOGE took a virtual chain saw to federal government agencies, cutting thousands of jobs as he says he wants to cut spending and bureaucracy.
What remains to be seen is the impact on the economy and the private labor market.
News4JAX Morning Show anchor Bruce Hamilton and his “Politics & Power” guests give you context and perspective on some of the most talked about stories that govern our world.
Brad Hershbein, a senior economist and researcher with the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, said there is a concern these federal layoffs could have a ripple effect and go beyond the immediate job losses.
Hershbein, who joined us on The Morning Show on Monday, also says there are questions about whether the laid off workers will find employment. That includes federal workers who lost their jobs in Jacksonville.
He also addressed the impact federal workers losing their jobs will have on the local economy.
