In the wake of a nationwide wave of federal job cuts, Washington state has recorded 362 federal employees filing for unemployment benefits between January 20—when President Trump took office—and this past Tuesday, according to a report released on Friday by the Washington Employment Security Department.
The Federal Transit Administration has not provided any comments regarding the situation. Similarly, Sound Transit, which operates commuter trains, Link light rail, and inter-county bus services in the Seattle metropolitan area—potentially the largest transit authority in the Pacific Northwest—has chosen not to comment. Meanwhile, a representative from the U.S. Department of Agriculture noted that wildland firefighters are protected from these layoffs, assuring that the federal government remains equipped to manage fires on federal land.
This number of unemployment claims represents an increase of nearly 200 compared to the same period last year, as highlighted in a blog post by the Employment Security Department. The firings have affected various agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and the Federal Transit Administration, with the full impact still unclear. However, former employees who spoke to local news outlets voiced serious concerns about the potential repercussions, ranging from wilderness search and rescue operations to financial losses for transit agencies.
At Bonneville Power Administration, which supplies over half of Washington state’s electricity, a spokesperson confirmed reports of hundreds of lineworkers and electricians being laid off or having job offers rescinded. While most Republican legislators in the state have adopted a cautious stance toward these firings, Congressman Dan Newhouse, representing Central Washington, expressed some apprehension this week via email.
The Washington Employment Security Department has encouraged federal employees seeking new job opportunities to visit one of approximately 30 WorkSource offices across the state for assistance and job referrals.
