By U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (D-2)
Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces; House Committee on Education and the Workforce
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U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2, says he has asked Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to protect Connecticut submarine base firefighters from what the congressman described as “dangerous mass firings at” the Defense Department.
Courtney, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, wrote Hegseth of his “deep concerns over the Department of Defense’s plan to cut eight percent of its probationary workforce, which could impact the firefighters at Naval Submarine Base New London.”
Thousands of federal workers caught in President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting efforts now face a difficult search for work.
The federal job cuts are the work of the Department of Government Efficiency, headed by billionaire Elon Musk, who has been tearing through agencies looking for suspected waste. No official tally of firings has been released, but the list stretches into the thousands and to nearly every part of the country. More than 80% of the federal government’s 2.4-million-person civilian workforce is based outside of the Washington area.
According to the DOD, Hegseth announced the agency “is re-evaluating our probationary workforce, consistent with the President’s initiative to reform the Federal workforce to maximize efficiency and productivity.”
“This re-evaluation 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 smartly.
“We anticipate reducing the Department’s civilian workforce by 5-8% to produce efficiencies and refocus the Department on the President’s priorities and restoring readiness in the force.”
The DOD noted, in a February 21st, post, “We expect approximately 5,400 probationary workers will be released beginning next week as part of this initial effort, after which we will implement a hiring freeze while we conduct a further analysis of our personnel needs, complying as always with all applicable laws.”
Courtney said in his letter, “I write to express deep concern regarding the Department of Defense’s (the Department) planned reductions to the probationary workforce, particularly in light of reports that these cuts could impact essential personnel such as the firefighters at the Naval Submarine Base New London (SUBASE NL) in Connecticut.”
“If workforce reductions are made based on arbitrary percentages, rather than an informed evaluation of mission-critical needs, we risk cutting personnel who provide life-saving services and compromising our ability to protect the very forces we seek to strengthen and have worked diligently to recruit and retain,” he wrote.
The letter cited as an example, “firefighters at military installations, including those at the SUBASE NL in my district, are at risk of being fired because of their probationary status. These dedicated workers are not bureaucratic excess; they are an essential component of force readiness and safety.”
Courtney said the union representing SUBASE firefighters, IAFF Local F-219, also is concerned.
The Associated Press contributed to this post.
Photo: Crew members of the U.S. Navy fast attack submarine Dallas as the boat passes along the Thames River near Groton enroute to the sub base upon its return from a 6 week training mission. The large tank like structure aft of the sail is a dry deck shelter that is used to support the activities of Navy SEALS and other for other special operations.
