(dot) Gov: The Future Of Our Federal Agencies

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🗓️ 6 January 2025

⏱️ 36 minutes

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Summary

President-elect Donald Trump says federal workers' jobs are on the chopping block under his incoming administration, citing waste and promising to "dismantle government bureaucracy."

The more than 2 million government workers across the country – at least 80 percent of whom are located outside DC – do critical work that keeps all facets of U.S. life running.

While the president-elect's rhetoric is concerning for them, problems with the upkeep and setup of our federal agencies do persist.

We launch our new series, dot Gov, with a look at the past, present and future of the federal workforce, and what's at stake for all Americans as these workers face changes under a new administration.

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0:00.0	Tis the season for rich meals, twinkly lights, and New Year's resolutions.
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0:19.2	Get the tools you need all year round with the Life Kit podcast from NPR.
0:32.0	President-elect Donald Trump says federal jobs are on the chopping block under his incoming administration,
0:37.8	citing waste and promising to, quote, dismantle government bureaucracy.
0:42.1	The more than 2 million government workers across the country, around 80% of whom are outside
0:46.7	D.C., do critical work that keeps all facets of U.S. life running.
0:51.1	And that includes some of you.
0:52.5	I'm a federal employee.
0:55.6	I'm a retired air traffic controller. I worked for the general accounting office. I understand the impulse to want to cut
1:01.7	bureaucracy, but there are longtime employees who really know how to get things done. I spent
1:07.1	over 30 years in civil service. We don't care who is in charge as long as you let us do our work.
1:13.8	I was very proud to work for that governmental agency.
1:16.8	I worry about services for our veterans being slowed down.
1:21.8	Housing and urban development cases being slowed down.
1:25.1	As a retired federal worker, this is something we're going to have to fight.
1:30.4	For our series.gov, we dive into some of the trials and triumphs of running federal agencies.
1:36.0	And we start by taking a look at the past, present, and future of our federal agencies,
1:40.4	including some you're less likely to have heard of and the people who make them run.
1:44.6	I'm Jen White, joined in studio by 1A's Todd Zwillick.
1:47.6	You're listening to the 1A podcast where we get to the heart of the story.
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