Reductions in Force
As the partial shutdown of the U.S. government continues into its third week, several agencies have announced reductions in force (RIFs). The agencies announcing layoffs include the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Treasury Department. So far, more than 4,100 federal employees have been terminated.
Analysis and eternal perspective: The U.S. federal government is one of the largest employers in the world, with approximately 3 million full-time employees. For context, the largest private employer in the world is Walmart, with approximately 2.1 million employees.
Given the above, the RIFs announced to date constitute approximately 0.1% of the federal workforce. Obviously, a numerical observation alone is not sufficient to weigh the impact on the people and departments involved.
More to the point for The Equipped family, you and I should continue looking for ways to serve those most directly impacted. From a public policy perspective, you may support the RIFs or you may oppose them. Either way, the fact they are occurring gives you and me a prime opportunity to identify need in our respective communities and mobilize to meet the need.
As we did together last week, ask yourself who in your community is most impacted by the ongoing shutdown? Do you know someone missing paychecks? Who do you know who might be experiencing a specific need as a result of a suspended program? How can you meet or alleviate those needs this week?
It is unclear how long the shutdown will continue, but it provides our community with a clear opportunity to exercise the muscle of noticing and meeting needs around us. The government shutdown will end at some point, but your call and mine to regularly engage in this way will remain (Matt 25:35-40). May this story be a means by which we increase our capacity for noticing and meeting need!
The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.