LANSING, Mich. (April 17, 2025) — Today, the Senate Labor Committee, led by Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint), held a special hearing to examine how recent mass federal workforce terminations are affecting Michiganders and the services they depend on. Former and current federal employees shared testimony speaking to the chaotic firing process carried out by the U.S. Dept. of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and how their sweeping cuts impact critical programming for Michigan residents, from veterans’ benefits and public housing to environmental research on our Great Lakes.
“From keeping our Great Lakes protected and helping our neighbors access Medicare and social security to ensuring our veterans can access essential health care benefits, federal workers are charged with crucial responsibilities that safeguard the well-being of our state and all those who call it home,” said Sen. Cherry. “The drastic slashing of our federal workforce and attempts to dismantle longstanding protections for workers is deeply concerning and demands attention. Here in Michigan, I remain committed to working alongside my legislative colleagues, state officials, and local partners to do everything we can to mitigate the harmful impacts of these actions on workers, families, and communities across the state.”
To date, over 120,000 federal employees have been terminated from their agencies at the hands of DOGE, including the entire Agency for International Development, over 80% of the Office of Community Planning and Development at HUD, and over half of the Dept. of Education. DOGE also carried out large cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, and Dept. of Veterans Affairs, among several other agencies.
One of the individuals who testified, Andrew Lennox, is an Administrative Officer with the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA). Based at a VA hospital in Ann Arbor, Andrew was fired in mid-Feb., later rehired and put on administrative leave, and then reinstated two weeks ago.
Andrew spoke to the impact these cuts would have on the quality of patient care veterans would receive from their VA hospital, saying, “I didn’t serve this country to watch it sell out its veterans. The consequences are not theoretical for me. My friends, Marines I served with, receive care at my hospital. I cannot look them in the eye and tell them that the quality of that care they receive will not be degraded to fulfill a political goal.”
A Financial Analyst with the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Leslie Desmond, was also fired in Feb. until she was later reinstated and put on administrative leave indefinitely. As someone whose role was instrumental in identifying fraud and misuse of government funding, she discussed how the chaotic firings carried out by DOGE were anything but fiscally responsible and effective at serving Michiganders.
“These unthought-out firings and massive cuts are an attack on all Americans,” Leslie said. “The current attacks on federal workers and programs are already causing instability in our housing availability and our communities. And what is worse, is that it is being done under the guise of financial responsibility. I urge Michigan’s lawmakers to stand up and let everyone know that you believe in a federal and state government that serves its people, not just the billionaires in charge.”
Nicole Rice, a former employee of the U.S. Dept. of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), highlighted NOAA’s vital role in promoting environmental stewardship, economic development, and public health and safety in the Great Lakes region, including performing life-saving weather predictions and monitoring water bodies for toxic algal blooms and invasive species.
Nicole talked about her whirlwind experience getting fired, then reinstated, only to get fired again just this past Thursday. Stripped of her income, health care, and left scrambling for information, she said, “After 13 years of dedicated civil service, I was terminated — not for wrongdoing, but for being promoted due to the quality of my work. In an instant, my career was derailed, my health insurance stripped away, and my retirement plans thrown into chaos. This isn’t reform — it’s devastation.”
Representatives from the Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) also participated in the hearing to weigh in on other concerning attacks on workers being considered in Washington. Officials outlined the state protections in place to safeguard the rights of Michigan workers if reckless changes to or elimination of the National Relations Labor Act (NRLA) and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) occur.
This hearing is one of several that Michigan Senate Democrats are holding to investigate the consequences of recent decisions made by the Trump administration and the impact of those actions on people and communities across Michigan. To watch the committee hearing, click here.
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