COOLBAUGH TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— The Trump Administration’s mass firing of probationary employees through the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE has its sights on Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is the largest industrial employer in NEPA. They are currently in limbo after receiving instructions from the Department of Defense to let go of some of their staff.
A northern California federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump Administration from its mass firing of probationary federal employees.
The move from the administration is a part of the President’s efforts to cut costs.
Despite the temporary pause, union leaders representing those employees at Tobyhanna Army Depot are still concerned over the uncertainty.
The Tobyhanna Army Depot employs more than 3,000 civilians, contractors, tenants, members of the armed forces, and veterans.
“We basically repair military equipment to provide it back to our customers, which is the Army, the Navy, the Airforce, the Marines,” explained Ned George, president, AFGE Local 1647.
Ned George is the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1647, a branch of the largest labor union representing federal employees worldwide. He’s also an Army veteran who works at the depot.
George says the union represents two categories of probationary employees at risk to lose their jobs, some are those who have been there for under a year, and their employment status is based on performance and conduct.
“They are not meeting the criteria of what probationary employees should be removed for, it should be strictly for conduct or performance related,” said George.
If the probationary employees are fired, George says the government’s goal is to replace them with private contractors in hopes to save costs.
He argues that hiring contracted employees will end up costing more.
George says the other category of probationary employees includes some that have been with the depot for more than 10 years, and are in a new job position.
“They’ve accepted a promotion to go into critical positions that are not filled, and now they are also underneath the probationary period for just that particular job, but they’re being threatened as well to be released from federal service,” explained George.
Even though there is a temporary pause on the administration’s order, George says what happens next is still unclear.
“I have never said to my wife that I’m worried about my job since I’ve came to Tobyhanna Army Depot over 20 years ago, and I’m worried that I’m not going to be able to retire from my country that I’ve served from my whole career here,” stated George.
We reached out to the Tobyhanna Army Depot for comment, the U.S. Army issued the following response:
The Army will fully execute and implement all directives outlined in the executive orders issued by the President, ensuring that they are carried out with utmost professionalism, efficiency, and in alignment with national security objectives. We will provide status updates as we are able.
U.S. Army
