US military veterans hit by Trump's federal workforce purge
- mdaviscvono
- Mar 18
- 2 min read
By W.G. DUNLOPAlastair Pike,
10 days ago
Hendrick Simoes served in the US Navy for 24 years, retiring last year and starting a new job as a civilian employee of the federal government.
But some five months into his probationary period with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), he received a letter terminating his employment and thus joined thousands of other US veterans who have been fired as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to slash the government workforce.
The sweeping job cuts have taken Trump's administration into uncharted territory, and are negatively affecting retired troops in a country where both major political parties frequently express support for current and former military personnel.
In addition to veterans being caught up in the layoffs, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced it plans to cut some 15 percent of its workforce, raising concerns about the impact on care and benefits.
"It's painful, it really is. And to me, it feels like such a betrayal," Simoes, a 43-year-old who reached the rank of senior chief petty officer and spent much of his Navy career in public affairs, said of his dismissal.
"My termination letter claimed that I don't have the... abilities, knowledge and or skills for the organization, which was blatantly false," he said, noting that a recent quarterly review "had called me exemplary and exceeding expectations."
Simoes considered his work as a senior communications specialist at NOAA a continuation of his service to his country -- and that opportunity has now been taken away.
"My heart was in working for... a good organization like NOAA, a place where I can continue to serve the American public and contribute to societal good. And now this just sucks, because I'm being told I can't do that anymore," he said.
Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has launched a vast offensive aimed at curbing public spending and reducing the federal bureaucracy.
- 'Punch in the face' -
To that end, he tapped billionaire Elon Musk, a top campaign donor turned close adviser, to lead the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has cut thousands of government jobs and upended agencies, prompting numerous court challenges.
US military veterans make up a significant portion of the federal workforce -- some 30 percent, while they are only around six percent of the overall US population -- meaning they are disproportionately affected by recent cuts.
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