Federal workers, union members speak out against DOGE cuts at Warner Robins public hearing

A group of current and former federal employees joined union leaders and community members in Warner Robins to speak out against cuts to federal spending by President Donald Trump.

The workers — who came from across the state and are affiliated with various federal agencies and military branches — expressed concerns that cuts could threaten livelihoods and hamper government services that are essential to everyday life.

Trump and Elon Musk, one of his senior advisers, have sought to cut federal spending since taking office in January through the Department of Government Efficiency, which is not a cabinet-level agency despite what its name implies.

DOGE claims to have eliminated around $155 billion in government spending, but media reports have questioned that number.

Abby Tighe, a former probationary worker at the Centers for Disease Control who was laid off in February as part of DOGE’s cuts, said her role involved collaborating with local communities to fight alcohol and drug abuse among children and teens. After Tighe, who lives in Atlanta, was let go, many of the communities she works with weren’t notified of her departure.

“I was not able to move over any of my work to other colleagues,” she said. “The community coalitions I worked with were learning through unanswered calls and emails and meetings on their calendar that nobody showed up to.”

Other attendees expressed concerns that firing federal workers could threaten basic services. Ozia Scott, an Army veteran and police officer at Fort Benning in Columbus, said veterans and active military personnel rely on federal employees to do everything from serving meals and providing medical care to processing paperwork and answering questions about benefits.

A cardboard cutout of an absent representative

Data shows that Middle Georgia accounts for a significant portion of Georgia’s federal employees. According to December 2024 statistics from the Congressional Research Office, Georgia’s 2nd and 8th districts — which are the U.S. House districts that include Macon, Warner Robins, Perry and Fort Valley — are home to nearly 40% of federal employees in Georgia.

Organizers said they invited Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia’s 8th District, which covers Warner Robins Air Force Base. He did not attend. Instead, organizers placed a cardboard cutout of the representative in front of the crowd and speakers directed their questions and grievances toward it.

Rep. Scott’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Federal cuts could have deep ramifications for Georgia

Staci Fox, president and CEO of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, a nonpartisan organization that analyzes tax policy and state budgets, said during the hearing that cuts to the federal workforce could have deep ramifications for Georgia’s economy.

Fox said there are around 100,000 federal workers employed in Georgia, which is higher than the number of state employees. According to the state’s annual workforce report, the state of Georgia employed around 68,000 workers in fiscal year 2024.

Fox also said cuts to federal programs such as medicaid could have a deep impact on Georgia, which receives about as much money from the federal government as it has in its annual state budget without federal funds.

“There is not enough money in the state to make up the gap,” Fox said.

This story was originally published April 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Federal workers, union members speak out against DOGE cuts at Warner Robins public hearing."