Concerns Raised by Chicago Federal Employees and Veterans on the Planned Job Reductions by the Trump Administration

CHICAGO (WLS) — The fear of what may come for Americans in the ongoing federal jobs fallout is now fueling a growing movement.

“I’m more energized than ever before,” expressed Michael Applegate, a U.S. Navy veteran. He highlighted the unraveling of the social safety net, affecting not only veterans but a wide range of individuals.

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In Chicago, stories continue to emerge from individuals who have served the nation or are actively involved in safeguarding America’s resources for the benefit of all citizens.

“The importance of environmental preservation transcends political affiliations. Access to clean water, air, and soil is crucial for everyone,” emphasized Loreen Targos from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office.

“Twenty-four-hundred people have been laid off today, and that’s only going to get bigger,” said Department of Veterans Affairs social worker Denise Mercherson.

They say these cuts workers may save money now, but the losses will cut deeper for the people they serve.

“These are highly-trained people who have devoted their lives to doing this really specialized type of work,” Targos said.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is planning to cut 80,000 workers. Applegate fears what this could mean for his fellow servicemembers.

“This is life and death for us,” Applegate said. “This will only cause further deaths within the VA healthcare system. More veterans will commit suicide. More veterans will die from lack of access to quality healthcare.”

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Sen. Tammy Duckworth joined other lawmakers in the Senate on Monday, introducing the Protect Veteran Jobs Act to help veterans impacted by recent mass layoffs.

“My legislation would allow veterans to get their jobs back. It would reinstate them going back to January 20th of this year,” Duckworth said.

Applegate and these Chicago federal workers are pleading with the public not just to save their jobs but help them fight to save lives.

“This is survival for us,” Applegate said. “The only way to deal with this is to fight back, and the only way to fight back is if we fight together.”