How are Trump, DOGE cuts affecting Idaho? The Statesman wants to hear from you
Department of Health and Human Services. Forest Service. Veterans Affairs.
These are just a few examples of federal agencies that have been hit by mass layoffs ordered by President Donald Trump and his new administration. Under the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by billionaire businessman Elon Musk, thousands of employees on probation lost their jobs and remain in limbo about whether they still have careers in the federal government while those orders are challenged in court.
Diversity initiatives also disappeared. And efforts to investigate claims of discrimination remain on hiatus indefinitely as the Trump administration closed down civil rights offices.
What’s more, nearly 40% of our state’s budget comes from federal dollars, the Idaho Statesman reported. Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, expressed caution at his State of the State address about the Trump administration’s actions, and told the public that any service — “fill in the blank of what’s important to you” — will undergo major changes.
So we want to know: How is this impacting Idaho?
The Statesman is trying to find out. We covered a round of mass layoffs affecting a wilderness ranger at the Sawtooth National Forest, funding cuts that would take millions away from the state’s Department of Health and Welfare, staff cuts at the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the threat of deportations alarming Idaho’s agricultural industry.
Whether you’re a federal worker, a state employee managing federal grants, or just a member of the public seeking services, the Statesman wants to hear from you. If you think you’re seeing Trump’s effects in any way, let us know, and we’ll investigate. Fill out this form below — or click here — and tell us your story. If you would rather email us directly, contact tips@idahostatesman.com.
