Unemployment claims among federal employees remain notably high as job cuts continue under the Trump administration. In a recent report from the Department of Labor, it was revealed that there were 1,066 initial claims filed through the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees program for the week ending March 8. This figure marks a decrease from the 1,580 claims recorded the previous week. However, it’s important to note that these numbers are subject to revision before the upcoming March 20 report.
Continuing Claims on the Rise
The number of ongoing unemployment claims, which serves as an indicator of those currently receiving benefits, has increased. For the week ending March 1, federal workers filed 8,648 continuing claims, up from 8,215 the week before. This trend highlights the ongoing impact of job losses in the federal sector as the administration implements significant workforce reductions.
- Key Figures:
- Initial claims for week ending March 8: 1,066
- Previous week claims: 1,580
- Continuing claims for week ending March 1: 8,648
- Previous week continuing claims: 8,215
Job Cuts Under the Trump Administration
Since President Donald Trump took office, federal agencies have seen tens of thousands of jobs eliminated. These cuts have been further intensified by the actions of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been actively terminating federal employees. Just recently, the administration announced plans to reduce the workforce by half at the Department of Education, impacting over 4,000 jobs.
State Breakdown of Claims
In terms of regional claims, California topped the list with 146 claims filed by federal workers. Following closely were:
- Maryland: 131 claims
- Washington, DC: 110 claims
- Georgia: 109 claims
- Virginia: 90 claims
This state-specific data underscores the widespread effects of federal job cuts across the nation.
Broader Unemployment Trends
Overall, the national picture for unemployment claims remains relatively stable. For the week ending March 8, total applications for unemployment benefits across the United States showed a slight decrease of 2,000, bringing the total to 220,000. This stability contrasts sharply with the rising claims among federal employees.
The situation continues to evolve, and further updates will be available in the forthcoming weekly jobless claims report. For more insights into these trends, you can explore related articles on government employment impacts and unemployment rates across various sectors.
