Home
http://www.pnj.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/01/civilian-job-loss-imminent-gaetz-fears/97350562/
As a consequence of President Donald Trump's hiring freeze on federal workers enacted Jan. 23 through an executive order, civilian employees at military bases in Northwest Florida could lose their jobs as early as this week.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fort Walton Beach) said early estimates conducted by his office indicate dozens of impacted employees at Whiting Field Naval Air Station in Milton and between 50 to 100 workers at Pensacola Naval Air Station. To circumvent that possibility, Gaetz petitioned Secretary of Defense James Mattis in a letter addressed Wednesday for exemptions to the order.
"Within the First District of Florida, our four major military installations could see freezes of hundreds of open civil service billets (jobs) that are directly affected by this memorandum," he wrote in the letter. "Equally troubling is that the various departments are now interpreting the memorandum to include federal civilians in the midst of transfer within the government or employment renewals. It is my grave concern that these interpretations could negatively impact the military missions conducted at NAS Pensacola, NAS Whiting Field, Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base."
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW LETTER
In an interview with the News Journal, Gaetz said the length of government contracts for civilian employees can vary between several months to multiple years. Many of the contracts previously renewed automatically, but the president's executive order could halt the process. A number of civil servants transitioning from one job to another also stand to be impacted.
"We could see people affected in maintenance, security, child care and other areas of civil service support," Gaetz said. "Civil servants may begin receiving notice of a change in their employment status as early as this week or next. That’s why we’re not waiting. We’re taking action now."
Zach Jenkins, director of the Haas Center for Business Research & Economic Development at the University of West Florida, said among those affected by the executive order, the duration of the hiring freeze could ultimately factor the most in workers' decisions to wait for the return of their jobs or seek other employment. For those seeking immediate work, a new job could mandate relocating out of the region, less wages or less career satisfaction.
RELATED CONTENT
Rep. Matt Gaetz to spend day in Milton, Pace on Feb. 23
As another consequence of the executive order, the civil servants still employed at military bases would naturally witness an escalation in responsibilities as a result of covering for those no longer working, Jenkins said. The increased duties could engender low morale, which could impact the quality of job performance.
"Now you’ve got to try to cover for all of the employees who are no longer there," Jenkins said. "That’s a less appealing job than it was when it was fully staffed. So there could be a domino effect."
After assuming command of the White House on Jan. 20, the Trump administration has faced criticism for not consulting with federal agencies and other lawmakers before authorizing executive action. Detractors have contended that the brevity in which the president has signed orders into effect has lacked the proper vetting from experts to ensure that the edicts are constitutional and enforceable.
Gaetz declined to criticize the president for affecting the livelihoods of civilian employees, describing the job losses instigated by the executive order as "unintended consequences." He said Trump still exhibited the prudence of allowing the defense secretary the ability to override the order's effect on various workers.
"I think it showed good foresight on the part of the president to give Gen. Mattis the authority to issue exemptions," Gaetz said. "We simply need those exemptions executed to support the military mission in Northwest Florida."
As a consequence of President Donald Trump's hiring freeze on federal workers enacted Jan. 23 through an executive order, civilian employees at military bases in Northwest Florida could lose their jobs as early as this week.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fort Walton Beach) said early estimates conducted by his office indicate dozens of impacted employees at Whiting Field Naval Air Station in Milton and between 50 to 100 workers at Pensacola Naval Air Station. To circumvent that possibility, Gaetz petitioned Secretary of Defense James Mattis in a letter addressed Wednesday for exemptions to the order.
"Within the First District of Florida, our four major military installations could see freezes of hundreds of open civil service billets (jobs) that are directly affected by this memorandum," he wrote in the letter. "Equally troubling is that the various departments are now interpreting the memorandum to include federal civilians in the midst of transfer within the government or employment renewals. It is my grave concern that these interpretations could negatively impact the military missions conducted at NAS Pensacola, NAS Whiting Field, Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base."
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW LETTER
In an interview with the News Journal, Gaetz said the length of government contracts for civilian employees can vary between several months to multiple years. Many of the contracts previously renewed automatically, but the president's executive order could halt the process. A number of civil servants transitioning from one job to another also stand to be impacted.
"We could see people affected in maintenance, security, child care and other areas of civil service support," Gaetz said. "Civil servants may begin receiving notice of a change in their employment status as early as this week or next. That’s why we’re not waiting. We’re taking action now."
Zach Jenkins, director of the Haas Center for Business Research & Economic Development at the University of West Florida, said among those affected by the executive order, the duration of the hiring freeze could ultimately factor the most in workers' decisions to wait for the return of their jobs or seek other employment. For those seeking immediate work, a new job could mandate relocating out of the region, less wages or less career satisfaction.
RELATED CONTENT
Rep. Matt Gaetz to spend day in Milton, Pace on Feb. 23
As another consequence of the executive order, the civil servants still employed at military bases would naturally witness an escalation in responsibilities as a result of covering for those no longer working, Jenkins said. The increased duties could engender low morale, which could impact the quality of job performance.
"Now you’ve got to try to cover for all of the employees who are no longer there," Jenkins said. "That’s a less appealing job than it was when it was fully staffed. So there could be a domino effect."
After assuming command of the White House on Jan. 20, the Trump administration has faced criticism for not consulting with federal agencies and other lawmakers before authorizing executive action. Detractors have contended that the brevity in which the president has signed orders into effect has lacked the proper vetting from experts to ensure that the edicts are constitutional and enforceable.
Gaetz declined to criticize the president for affecting the livelihoods of civilian employees, describing the job losses instigated by the executive order as "unintended consequences." He said Trump still exhibited the prudence of allowing the defense secretary the ability to override the order's effect on various workers.
"I think it showed good foresight on the part of the president to give Gen. Mattis the authority to issue exemptions," Gaetz said. "We simply need those exemptions executed to support the military mission in Northwest Florida."
