Union members with the Submarine Base Fire Department in Groton are raising an alarm about the possibility of losing firefighters as the Trump Administration continues its threat of widespread layoffs and a hiring freeze for federal employees.
The U.S. Department of Defense is one of multiple federal agencies that have announced a reevaluation of its civilian and, more specifically, probationary workforce. A DOD statement released on Feb. 21 announces a planned reduction of the department's civilian workforce by 5 to 8% “to produce efficiencies and refocus the Department on the President’s priorities and restoring readiness in the force.”
It remains unclear if the civilian workforce at the Naval Submarine Base will be targeted, but the firefighters' union, International Association of Fire Fighters Local F-219, took to social media this weekend to ask for the community’s support. The department employees about 45 full-time firefighters and along with the submarine base, provides mutual aid to departments in the surrounding area.
“New Executive Orders threaten the job security of our probationary firefighters, which could have a profound negative impact on our capacity to carry out our duties safely, the social media post reads. "We strongly encourage you to reach out to your local state representatives to share your concerns about these Executive Orders. It is imperative that we stand together to safeguard the dedicated individuals of the IAFF 16th District. Your advocacy is crucial in ensuring that we can continue to serve our community effectively.”
It is unclear how many probationary firefighters work at the department. A spokesperson with the fire department's union referred all questions to Navy's public affairs division, which did not immediately provide comment. Similarly, a spokesperson with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, which also employs civilians, did not respond to questions.
The firing of thousands of federal workers is a cornerstone of President Donald Trump’s plan to shrink the size of the federal government. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a Feb. 20 online video message, said the Department of Defense welcomes efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency, which is being run by Elon Musk, to find “fraud, waste and abuse in the largest discretionary budget in the federal government.”
Hegseth said the aim was to root out redundancies and “identify the last vestiges of Biden priorities, the DEI, the woke, the climate change B.S. that’s not core to our mission — and we're going to get rid of it all."
“This reevaluation of probationary employees is being done across government, not just at the Defense Department, but we believe in the goals of the program, and our leaders are carrying out that review carefully and swiftly. The bottom line, it is simply not in the public interest to retain individuals whose contributions are not mission critical and to restore accountability within the federal workforce.”
Finding efficiencies, Hegseth said, would ultimately save taxpayers money that can be reinvested. He said he plans an 8%, or $50 billion reduction, in spending in each of the next five years.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the scope of the firings and layoffs is still unknown but might eventually reach the submarine base, the Coast Guard Academy and the state's Veterans Affairs. The Trump administration's announcements have caused confusion and chaos across multiple state agencies and fears among the workforce.
“Layoffs at the Naval Submarine Base in New London or the U.S. Coast Guard Academy would undoubtedly damage the readiness of our armed forces and national defense," Blumenthal said. The Trump Administration’s repeated threats of federal funding cuts are harming hard working federal employees who receive conflicting messages about the availability of funds or even whether they will have a job tomorrow. I will keep fighting these dangerous and short-sighted efforts. Americans simply deserve safety and security.”
A spokesperson with the International Association of Fire Fighters was not immediately available to comment Monday.
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