Former federal workers share concerns about job cuts at roundtable with Kansas congresswoman

A handful of former federal workers gathered at a local union hall in Merriam on Friday with U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., to share concerns about federal workforce reductions.

Davids heard their concerns about federal job reductions under the Trump administration.

Donny Newsom, a Navy veteran recently let go from a construction supervisor role for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shared his concerns with the cuts and losing his job.

“I think I owe it to the American people to, to at least push back a little bit and push back for the folks that can't, that don't have the capability to push back,” Newsom said.

The number of people losing federal jobs in the Kansas City area is still not fully known.

“I think it's going to be extremely difficult to undo what's happening right now, because the service and stability is what drew people to the federal government,” said Scott Curtis, whose job status has remained in limbo as chief of staff for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Davids shared her thoughts about the trimming federal workforce so rapidly.

Conservative radio host Pete Mundo, of Mundo in the Morning on 95.7 FM and 710 AM, called Davids' town hall political posturing.

“No one wants to see anyone lose their job,” Mundo said. “But at the same time, we've got a $2 trillion annual deficit. And $36 trillion in debt.”

Mundo said there are a lot of people who support cutting the federal jobs.

“Not because they want to see anybody out of work, but, because it is an unsustainable model they've developed the last few years in particular, growing government at a record pace,” he said.

The roundtable in Merriam lasted about an hour.

Kansas City’s federal workforce reached its peak in July 1990 with more than 32,500 workers. It dropped to its lowest point in June 2007 with a little more than 25,000 workers. Kansas City has about 29,300 federal workers as of late January.