WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) to demand answers from the Trump administration regarding the unlawful purging of federal workers in New Mexico.
“We write in strong opposition to the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to purge nonpartisan civil servants from the federal workforce. Our state is home to around 30,000 federal employees who are critical to managing and protecting the health, safety, and economic prosperity of New Mexico. These indiscriminate cuts threaten the effective functioning of critical federal services and will harm our states’ residents,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Acting Director Charles Ezell.
In their letter, the N.M. Delegation requested that the Trump administration provide detailed and complete information regarding federal employees in New Mexico that have been terminated, placed on leave, transferred, or been subject to a reduction in force (RIF).
The letter was led by U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.).
The text of the letter is here and below:
Dear Acting Director Ezell,
We write in strong opposition to the Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts to purge nonpartisan civil servants from the federal workforce. Our state is home to around 30,000 federal employees who are critical to managing and protecting the health, safety, and economic prosperity of New Mexico. These indiscriminate cuts threaten the effective functioning of critical federal services and will harm our states’ residents. We request that you provide detailed and complete information regarding federal employees in New Mexico that have been terminated, placed on leave, transferred, or been subject to a reduction in force (RIF).
On January 28, 2025, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent an email to more than 2 million federal employees with the subject line “The Fork in the Road.” The email outlined a “deferred resignation” offer for federal employees with a deadline for response of February 6, 2025. However, this deadline was eventually extended by court order.
The Administration then attempted to expand its purge by terminating en masse probationary status employees, because these employees have fewer legal protections. On January 20, 2025, OPM issued a memorandum titled, “Guidance on Probationary Periods, Administrative Leave and Details,” which required agencies to identify and submit to OPM a list of employees within their probationary periods. According to public reporting, your agency directed federal agencies to prioritize terminations of individuals in their probationary period.
On February 11, 2025, President Trump, joined by unelected billionaire Elon Musk, issued a sweeping Executive Order titled “Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative,” which directed all agency heads to “initiate large-scale reductions in force.” Shortly thereafter, federal agencies across the government began imposing “widespread layoffs” of thousands of probationary employees. Another Executive Order sent out on March 14th, further reiterates the Administration’s desire to unlawfully withdraw congressionally mandated funding in an attempt to eliminate federal jobs. Agencies were required to submit the 2nd phase of their RIF plans to OPM signaling that more job cuts are being planned for the future. This comes as U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a Preliminary Injunction broadening a temporary restraining order against the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and its Acting Director, Charles Ezell, finding the termination of probationary federal employees illegal because OPM had no authority to order it. The Administration’s executive overreach could cripple federal agencies, including in critical areas of disaster preparedness, public health, public safety, and national security.
Given the significant impacts of the Administration’s purge on our state, we request that you provide the following information by April 14, 2025:
1. The number of federal employees in New Mexico since January 20, 2025, that have been terminated, placed on administrated leave, taken early retirement, or been subject to a RIF broken down by agency, county, congressional district, GS level, and average length of federal service;
2. The number of veterans who held positions with the federal government in New Mexico since January 20, 2025, that have been terminated, placed on administrated leave, taken early retirement, or been subject to a RIF broken down by agency, county, congressional district, GS level, and average length of federal service;
3. The number of federal employees in New Mexico that have accepted the Administration’s “deferred resignation” offer broken down by agency, county, congressional district, GS level, and average length of federal service;
4. A detailed plan explaining how OPM will work with agencies and our state government to ensure that RIFs do not result in delays or disruptions to programs and benefits, including but not limited to Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid, on which our constituents rely; and
5. Can you commit to providing a recurring update every week that highlights the impacts of federal personnel cuts to New Mexico?
6. How will New Mexico continue to access crucial services that our state relies on if they are impacted due to the personnel cuts in the federal government?
If you have any questions regarding this request, please contact any of our offices directly. Thank you for your prompt response to this matter.
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