Unions say OMD directive to reduce federal workforce “cuts right into bone”

​“There’s nothing cool about firing hard-working people who’ve devoted themselves to government service, or about hurting communities that depend on the services they provide.” That was AFSCME president Lee Saunders’ sharp response to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney’s plan to reduce the federal workforce, announced earlier this week. And AFGE president J. David Cox Sr. slammed the directive’s “idea that even more of the government’s work should be outsourced to costly and unaccountable contractors.”  The directive “doesn’t trim fat,” added Saunders, “it cuts right into bone.”