Press Releases

LAKEWOOD – Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) today announced her legislation to uncover how Trump’s federal workforce cuts have impacted her constituents’ ability to resolve their federal casework issues. This effort comes after it was brought to Pettersen’s attention that there are just three federal case managers at the Department of Education processing all cases, and just five total case managers at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), causing extraordinary delays for her constituents.

Pettersen’s Constituent Services Impacts of Federal Workforce Firings Act requires a comprehensive review of Trump’s federal workforce reduction efforts and their impact on agencies’ constituent services – including but not limited to delayed benefits at the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and impediments to disaster relief coordination within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

“One of the most important roles of our congressional office is helping our constituents navigate issues with federal agencies and ensure they get the help and answers they need. But we are seeing firsthand the devastating consequences of Trump and Elon Musk’s mass firings and our constituents are the ones who are paying the price - facing exponentially longer wait times or not being able to get any answers at all," said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. “In some cases, this can be the difference between families having access to lifesaving care, seniors being able to pay their bills and keep a roof over their head, or students being able to pursue a higher education. Trump and Elon Musk took a hatchet to the critical services we depend on and the American people deserve to know the real costs to our country and a clear roadmap to recover from their disastrous policies.”

Specifically, Pettersen’s legislation would require a comprehensive study of the scope of the federal workforce reduction, including understanding impacted constituent services at regional field offices, altered response times, and delayed services and benefits, as well as how it has caused impediments to federal, state, and local disaster relief coordination. 

After Donald Trump’s inauguration, in January 2025, he selected trillionaire technology CEO Elon Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an unrestrained council engineered to aggressively shrink the federal government. Operating without Congressional authorization, DOGE moved to impose sweeping federal agency workforce reductions, implementing aggressive measures to dismantle the federal workforce. Widespread federal layoffs disproportionately affected probationary employees at federal agencies including the SSA, the IRS and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), among others.

Last year, Rep. Pettersen joined 50+ House Democrats in letters to the IRS and SSA, and co-led the Securing Assurance for Federal Employees (SAFE) Act to block the Trump Administration from carrying out mass federal layoffs during a government shutdown. She is a member of the House Financial Services Committee where she has been a leading voice on government effectiveness and supporting federal workers, increasing affordability, addressing the housing crisis, and expanding access to affordable and quality healthcare.

The bill is endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Federation of Federal Employees, the National Treasury Employees Union, and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.

“Federal workers deliver essential services directly to Americans every single day. The Trump Administration has dealt a body blow to the federal workforce through indiscriminate mass firings, making it much harder for government employees to do their jobs. This legislation would instruct the GAO to study the impact of federal firings on service delivery, shedding light on the harm they have caused to taxpayers and the people who rely on government programs,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley

"The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) is proud to support the Constituent Services Impacts of Federal Workforce Firings Act. From day one of President Trump’s second term, this administration has led a reckless campaign to gut the federal workforce, resulting in severe reductions in the services that federal agencies provide to the American people. These are critical services that we all rely on every single day. This legislation will ensure Congress, as well as Americans across the nation, understand the true scope of the damage President Trump and his supporters have done to public services throughout the country,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin 

"NTEU is proud to endorse The Constituent Services Impacts of Federal Workforce Firings Act and applauds Representative Pettersen for her leadership on this important issue. The recent misguided efforts to gut the federal workforce are harmful to the American people and the services they rely on. If passed into law, this bill would provide valuable insight and transparency into the real and tangible damage that occurs when federal agencies and programs are underfunded and inadequately staffed. I urge the House of Representatives to swiftly pass this commonsense legislation,” said NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald

"The current Administration’s federal workforce cuts through Reductions in Force (RIFs) have lacked justification and an established process and resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of highly qualified, skilled, and dedicated federal employees. Congress needs a comprehensive assessment, and the American public deserves a full accounting of how this Administration’s RIF actions have impacted the delivery of public services, government efficiency, and accountable agency operations. We thank Congresswoman Pettersen for introducing the Constituent Services Impacts of Federal Workforce Firings Act, and we urge Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to cosponsor this important measure,” said IFPTE International President Matt Biggs

Bill text can be found HERE.

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