What you need to know about Ohio Politics and Policy
Toolkit: Advocating for Fired Federal Workers
Summary: President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s DOGE has led to massive firings across the federal government. In the first hours of his Administration, President Trump instituted a federal government hiring freeze and revoked job offers. In the weeks following, thousands of workers were fired, top officials and watchdogs ousted, and 77,000 employees pressured to leave.
This toolkit includes messaging, content and resources to support those affected, amplify their voices, and equip advocates to stand up for policies that promote equality and opportunity for all.
Main Talking Points
- Emphasize widely held shared values to make clear that firing American federal workers harms us all
- Connect the firings to an essential service people rely on
- Explain the “why”: so that Trump can give massive tax breaks to the billionaires who got him elected
Messaging Guidance
- Trump and Elon Musk’s mass firings of American workers hurt families and make our communities less safe in every corner of the country, all at the expense of giving massive tax breaks to the wealthy.
- Trump is preparing to give his billionaire campaign backers a massive tax break at the expense of vital programs people rely on like health care for veterans, medical research to fight diseases, disaster relief, and staff at the FAA.
- Firing American workers at the VA is only going to make it harder for Ohio’s 820,000 veterans to advance their careers and receive life-saving treatment.
- Donald Trump let his billionaire buddy Elon Musk force out the top federal air safety official in order to help Musk’s business. Just days later, an air traffic control mistake led to a horrific plane crash that killed 67 people. They’re putting greed ahead of our safety.
Messaging DO’s and DONT’s
 DOs | DONTs |
|---|---|
| Use words like “firing American workers”, “neighbors”, “those that keep us safe” |  Legitimize the firings by using language like “decreasing government spending”, “layoffs” or “downsizing” which make the action appear routine |
| Lead with shared values like “fairness”, “safety”, and “respect for all Americans”. | repeat opposition claims, even to refute them (e.g., “DEI is not to blame”). |
| Name the culprits – MAGA Republicans and dangerous billionaire backers – and their motivations. | use defensive language that reinforces the opposition’s narrative. “Although we need to cut some waste…” |
| Connect the firings to an essential service. Ex. highlight how these firings make communities less safe, harm veterans, make our skies unsafe and weaken disaster response. | use jargon or technical terms such as “probationary period”. Keep the message clear and accessible to a broad audience. |
| reinforce how Trump and Musk’s firing decisions are reckless and creating chaos in every corner of the country | allow the conversation to be about the size and scope of the federal government |
| Frame it as a leadership failure. Show how Trump and Musk’s decisions hurt American workers and communities. | Give Trump grace when DOGE rehires staff they mistakenly fired. |
TAKE ACTION
Content
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More Content: Advocating for Fired Federal Workers Content
Resources and Legal Protections for Federal Workers
- Five Rights All Federal Workers Have
- What federal workers can do to protect themselves
- Federal Employee Speech & the First Amendment: A Know-Your Rights Guide
- Federal Employee Explainer Series
- Understanding the Termination of Federal Probationary Employees and Their Rights
- Federal Employee Rights: What Probationary Employees Need to Know
- Federal Employee Resource Hub
Resources
- Tracking Trump’s overhaul of the federal workforce
- Trump’s federal workforce cuts jeopardize the careers of nearly 900,000 veterans and veteran or military spouses
- Federal jobs affected by DOGE cuts
Number of federal civilian employees in Ohio by agency/department
| Department of Veteran Affairs: | 17,930 |
| Department of the Air Force: | 15,520 |
| Department of Defense: | 9,525 |
| Department of the Army: | 1,650 |
| Department of the Treasury (IRS, etc): | 1,620 |
| NASA: | 1,546 |
| Social Security Administration: | 1,340 |
| Department of Transportation: (FAA, etc.): | 1,180 |
| Department of Agriculture: | 1,090 |
| Department of Health and Human Services (CDC, etc.): | 940 |
| Environmental Protection Agency: | 585 |
| Department of Commerce (US Census Bureau, etc): | 450 |
| Department of Interior (National Park Service, etc.): | 430 |
| Department of Homeland Security (FEMA, etc.): | 385 |
| Department of Labor: | 370 |
| Department of Justice (Bureau of Prisons, etc.): | 315 |
| Department of the Navy: | 180 |
| Department of Energy: | 185 |
| General Services Administration: | 160 |
| Department of Housing and Urban Development: | 110 |
| Small Business Administration: | 95 |
| National Archives and Records Administration: | 70 |
| Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: | 50 |
| Department of Education: | 50 |
| National Labor Relations Board: | 45 |
| Office of Personnel Management: | 30 |
| National Credit Union Administration: | 25 |
| Federal Trade Commission: | 20 |
| Total federal civilian employment in Ohio: | 56,070 |
| Source: CNN |