President Donald Trump's administration is now ordering the mass firings of probationary workers throughout all federal agencies, putting approximately 200,000 workers at risk of losing their jobs.
During a Friday segment on CNN, Randy Erwin, who is the president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, told the network that "our country is less safe and less efficient" because of the administration's decision to fire thousands of workers. He then said that his union was compelled to file a lawsuit challenging the mass firings, alleging that Trump was not following the law.
"They've indicated that they want to get rid of 75% of the federal workforce. And how they're doing it is illegal. And that's why we filed this lawsuit," Erwin said.
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"There's a RIF [reduction in force] procedure that is spelled out in law. And the president, under Article II of the Constitution, he has to faithfully execute the laws of this country," he continued. "And he is ignoring that completely."
Erwin lamented that the administration had already laid off roughly 3,400 employees with the U.S. Forest Service, and another 2,000 people who worked for the Department of Energy. Erwin noted that this included much of the federal support staff assisting with wildfire response in California last month.
"They do a tremendous job caring for our lands and protecting communities ... Those jobs are every bit as essential," he said. "And we're in a more dangerous place today because of those actions. We need those workers."
"There is no way, based on the wording of his executive order, that agencies could both follow the executive order and comply with that law," he added. "He is not faithfully executing the laws of this country. That's unconstitutional. And people should be really mad about that. ... and ultimately getting in the streets because ultimately, we've gotta abide by the Constitution in this country."
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Watch Erwin's segment below, or by clicking this link.