Public Worker Attack Response Resources

Attack on Public Sector Workers

The Trump Administration’s attacks on public sector workers have begun, and it is up to us to fight back.

We know public sector workers, both federal and state, are the ones that keep our country and state running, providing essential health services, safety services for air, water and food, protecting our natural resources and so much more!

These actions were intended to create chaos. We anticipate the attacks on public workers will continue throughout the next four years.  

Creation of the Department of Government Efficiency

• Federal worker firings have occurred under the guise of saving money and making the government more efficient. These workers are essential to the health and safety of our nation.
• Federal payments have been centralized under Musk, and DOGE now has the technical and logistical ability to allocate and withhold federal money without congressional authorization. 
• DOGE now has access to the personal data and information of all citizens.

Freeze to Federal Funding

• The initial order to freeze all federal loans and grants was met by multiple injunctions that have prevented this from occurring.However, many of these federal payments have begun being withholding federal funds under DOGE.

Impact on Minnesota State Employees 

• A funding freeze would put trillions of dollars in federal spending on hold, disrupting public programs that serve millions of Americans.   
• Minnesotans pay our federal taxes under the promise that we will receive the benefits of federal programming in return. Minnesota receives $40 billion in federal funds per biennium, and the immediate impact on state agency operations, including funding for state positions, is still unclear.   
• President Trump has also reinstated Schedule F, a move that could strip civil service protections from tens of thousands of federal workers, making them vulnerable to political interference and termination.  
• MAPE’s Legislative Team is closely monitoring legislative responses to this action at both the state and federal levels.   
• Governor Walz has publicly stated his commitment to blocking similar actions at the state level, reinforcing Minnesota’s pro-labor stance.  
• No layoffs have occurred. We need everyone's help to fight back against the freeze on federal spending.   
• Regardless if your job would be impacted by federal funding, every Minnesotan would be affected.
• If federal funds do not come through in your department it will impact the entire agency, not just those positions that are federally-funded.
• The Minnesota budget is in a deficient and we have to actively advocate for fully funding our state agencies to protect all MAPE jobs.

See if your Democrat Congressman is standing up to Trump

• Omar and McCollum have voted to support Trump 0%
• Morrison and Craig have voted to support some of Trump’s efforts

Actions for MAPE members  
 

Ensure your department’s seniority roster is accurate. If it is not, contact your business agent. Rosters are typically hosted on agency intranets. 

Notify MAPE of any formal layoff or informal work impact notice using this form. 

Share your impact – we need stories to tell and those are best told using real people to connect to the services we provide. Submit yours using this form. 

Attend your Local meetings to stay informed.

Contact your legislators - template below.

Contact your Regional Steward Director, Director or business agent with questions or concerns. (Don't know your Local, look it up here) 

Sign up to be a member today. Ask your colleagues to join. 

Sign up for MAPE’s newsletter to ensure you receive all updates. 

Use our suggested social media content or create your own and post on your social media about the work you do and the effects of attacks on public servants. 

Contact your elected officials

Find who represents you and their contact information.

Phone script

Hello, Senator/Representative ________.

My name is __________ and I work at __{insert agency}_ as a _{insert job}. I am a proud state government employee and member of MAPE - Minnesota Association of Professional Employees.

I am calling as your constituent to share my deep concern about the state budget agreement. With the federal government moving to slash Medicaid, disability services and other social supports - while also attempting to freeze and cut federal funding - I am looking to you to do everything in your power to protect my job, my family and our community from this chaos. This means fully-funding state agencies, while raising revenue to preserve our investments in healthcare, childcare, education and other basic services Minnesotans rely on. 

My work is important to your constituents, and all Minnesotans. (Talk about what you do and how it is important to the state. Brief sentence or two about what it would look like if your work was eliminated. Who would go unserved and how would that impact them?) 

As many of my neighbors struggle to get by, we also know the wealthy and large corporations are making off better than ever. Minnesotans are happy to chip in their part if the wealthy add theirs. I hope you will support policies that give Minnesota the revenues we need to support public employees and minimize the harm to working families. 

Thank you. Goodbye.

Email draft

Dear Senator/Representative ________: 

My name is __________ and I work at __{insert agency}_ as a _{insert job}. I am a proud state government employee and member of Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE).  

I am writing to share my deep concern about the upcoming state budget agreement. With the federal government moving to slash Medicaid, disability services and other social supports - while also attempting to freeze and cut federal funding - I am looking to you to do everything in your power to protect my job, my family and our community from this chaos. This means fully-funding state agencies, while raising revenue to preserve our investments in healthcare, childcare, education and other basic services Minnesotans rely on. 

My work is important to your constituents, and all Minnesotans. (Talk about what you do and how it is important to the state. Brief sentence or two about what it would look like if your work was eliminated. Who would go unserved and how would that impact them?) 

As many of my neighbors struggle to get by, we also know the wealthy and large corporations are making off better than ever. Minnesotans are happy to chip in their part if the wealthy add theirs. I hope you will support policies that give Minnesota the revenues we need to support public employees and minimize the harm to working families. 

Sincerely, 

Name  
Address