Committee Leaders Demand Commerce Secretary Lutnick Protect Employees From Musk’s Mindless DOGE Firings
Washington, DC – Today, Committee Leaders Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Subcommittee on Environment Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI), and Subcommittee on Research and Technology Ranking Member Haley Stevens (D-MI) sent a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick immediately following his Senate confirmation demanding that Commerce employees be protected from Co-Presidents Trump and Musk’s mindless firings.
“We write to you with the urgent request that Department of Commerce (DOC) employees performing work necessary for public safety and national security be protected from the irrational and mindless mass firings pushed by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE),” the Members said in the letter. “It is imperative that you stand up for the critical work being done throughout the DOC and refuse to cede your leadership to Elon Musk.”
In their letter, the Members stress that DOGE’s handling of federal employee terminations has been chaotic and poses a major threat to American national security. They point to the hundreds of employees fired on February 13th at the National Nuclear Security Administration. After DOGE realized they had fired people responsible for maintaining our nuclear arsenal, they backtracked and attempted to rehire the fired employees, but according to reported emails, officials could not get in touch with the employees they had terminated.
“This situation is a threat to public safety at home and a deep embarrassment on the international stage, displaying to our adversaries that President Trump and President Musk’s sloppiness and poor decision making extends to matters as grave as nuclear weapons,” the Members said regarding the NNSA firings.
Federal employee terminations have continued today. Ahead of terminations starting at DOC, Committee leaders are urging that Commerce Secretary Lutnick stand his ground and protect the employees he oversees given their importance to American safety. The Members stress their particular concern with matters that fall under the Committee’s jurisdiction, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“We have absolutely no confidence that the Trump-Musk White House will handle DOC with the appropriate attention and sensitivity to its myriad public safety responsibilities," the Members continue in the letter. “It falls to you to be an unflinching advocate for DOC and for the hundreds of millions of Americans who rely on its activities every day.” … “If NOAA scientists are indiscriminately fired to appease Elon Musk, Americans will be unprepared for the next extreme weather event, and lives may be lost that could have been saved. In your first action as the confirmed Secretary of the Department of Commerce, we urge you to protect your workforce providing critical services – and, by extension, to protect every American who depends on them.”
The letter can be found here.
Science Committee Democrats have launched a survey for individuals fired by the Trump Administration to share their story.
Learn more here: democrats-science.house.gov/sciencefirings
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