The Daily - Inside the Trump Purge: Federal Workers Tell Their Stories

Inside the Trump Purge: Federal Workers Tell Their Stories

02/19/25 • 27 min

18 Listeners

On the campaign trail, Donald J. Trump and his allies left little doubt that, if they returned to power, federal workers would face layoffs, buyouts and agency closures.

Now that President Trump’s plan has become a reality, dozens of federal workers explain what it’s been like to live through it.

Background reading:

Here’s where Mr. Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE have cut federal workers so far.
Stunned government workers are facing sleeplessness, anger and tears.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Photo: Mandel Ngan/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

On the campaign trail, Donald J. Trump and his allies left little doubt that, if they returned to power, federal workers would face layoffs, buyouts and agency closures.

Now that President Trump’s plan has become a reality, dozens of federal workers explain what it’s been like to live through it.

Background reading:

Here’s where Mr. Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE have cut federal workers so far.
Stunned government workers are facing sleeplessness, anger and tears.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Photo: Mandel Ngan/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Previous Episode

A Conversation With the Architect of Trump's New Trade War

During less than a month in office, President Trump has pursued more trade actions against adversaries and allies than all the trade measures he took in his entire first four-year term. There is one man guiding it all: his trade adviser Peter Navarro.

Ana Swanson, who covers trade and international economics for The Times, explains why Mr. Navarro thinks tariffs will usher in a new age of American prosperity.

Guest: Ana Swanson, who covers trade and international economics for The New York Times.

Background reading:

Mr. Navarro, a loyalist in Mr. Trump’s first term, was a thorn in the side of Wall Street.
Mr. Trump’s tariffs are threatening to upend the global economic order.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Next Episode

The Sordid Saga of President Trump and Mayor Adams

1 Recommendations

The sweeping federal corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams seemed to spell the end of his career. Then he got a sudden reprieve from President Trump — but as the terms of that support became public, an extraordinary blowback ensued.

Nicholas Fandos, who covers New York politics and government for The Times, walks us through the saga.

Guest: Nicholas Fandos, a reporter covering New York politics and government for The New York Times.

Background reading:

Here are the charges against Mayor Adams.
The mayor may avoid a criminal trial. He still faces political peril.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Photo: Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.