WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration cancelling a scheduled cost-of-living adjustment for federal civilian workers that was set to go into effect for 2019.
“Zero. This seems to be how much respect President Trump has for federal workers. Days after a judge nullified most of President Trump’s illegal executive orders targeting the collective rights of federal workers, he retaliates by erasing what was to be a meager cost of living adjustment for federal civilian employees. It is outrageous and hypocritical that after spending billions of taxpayer dollars on unnecessary tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations – and as the president boasts about the ‘great’ state of the American economy, that suddenly the White House finds that there is zero money left to pay a minimal cost-of-living adjustment to the patriotic, dedicated public servants. These are mostly middle-income Americans who work 24/7 on behalf of the American people.
“The American people need to understand who President Trump is attacking, because the work that is done by federal employees affects everyone in our country in some way. These are the individuals nationwide who support our servicemen and service women on the battlefield; who care for our veterans; who guard our borders; who ensure that our air is safe to breathe, our water safe to drink, and our food safe to eat; who protect our consumers from fraud and combat discrimination by protecting the civil rights of all Americans ; who explore the outer reaches of the universe and the inner workings of a single cell; who discover new treatments and cures for diseases; who protect consumers from fraud; who process tax returns and Social Security benefits; and who promote our values and interests abroad. Despite what is stated in his letter to Congress, the president’s constant attack on our federal public servants will indeed ‘affect our ability to attract and retain a well-qualified Federal workforce.’ But facts seem to be irrelevant to the Trump Administration.”
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