Federal workers like Laura Dodson, who have long been the economic backbone of Washington, D.C., and its suburbs, are once again worried about being uprooted from their jobs. During Donald Trump’s presidency, Dodson’s office at the U.S. Department of Agriculture was told it would move to Kansas City, Missouri. While 75 employees were expected to relocate, less than 40 actually moved, leading to retirements and job changes that hurt the agency.
Now, with Trump proposing to move up to 100,000 federal jobs from Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. as part of his Agenda 47 plan, anxiety is rising again among federal workers. The plan is controversial even among Republicans, with many, including Trump’s Republican challenger in the Maryland Senate race, calling it crazy. The move could also impact Trump’s chances in Virginia, a state he lost in both 2016 and 2020.
Dodson, who is acting vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees local 3403, says the proposal is causing a lot of anxiety among workers who fear for their jobs, homes, and livelihoods.
Federal workers are also concerned about Project 2025, a proposal by Trump allies to overhaul the federal government, which includes eliminating thousands of jobs and removing civil service protections. While Trump has distanced himself from the plan, it remains a significant worry for workers like Michael Knowles, president of AFGE local 1924, who believes the plan could harm the federal workforce.
The D.C. area has the largest number of federal civilian employees, with about 160,700 jobs, while Maryland and Virginia also have large numbers of federal workers. Local leaders in Maryland and Virginia are outraged by Trump’s proposals, viewing them as retaliation, especially in Maryland, where Trump is unpopular.
Both Republican and Democratic leaders in Maryland have condemned the relocation plan. Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, called the proposals crazy and warned they would be devastating to the region and the federal government.
Small businesses that rely on federal workers are also worried about the impact of the relocations. Tay Gibson, a service manager at an auto repair shop near the U.S. Census Bureau in Maryland, said losing federal workers would hurt local businesses like his.
Libby Garvey, chair of the Arlington County Board in Virginia, echoed these concerns, saying that a loss of federal jobs would hurt the local economy and affect public services like schools, roads, and public safety.
Political experts note that while the plan might appeal to some outside the D.C. area who distrust the federal government, it could harm Trump’s chances in Virginia, where federal workers and contractors form a significant voting bloc.
Filipe Campante, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, warned that relocating federal workers could weaken accountability in government by distancing civil servants from the center of power.