Disabled federal employees are being let go at alarming rates under the Trump administration.

NBC News reports:

“In 2017, the government fired 2,626 full-time employees with disabilities, according to documents from the EEOC obtained by NBC News. That marks a 24 percent increase from 2016.

The EEOC data indicates that workers with disabilities were fired at almost two times the rate of those without disabilities.

Democratic lawmakers questioned the Trump administration’s treatment of disabled federal workers in June, penning a letter to the Office of Personnel Management, the government’s chief human resources agency, requesting updated personnel data. The lawmakers, led by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., expressed concern that federal workers with disabilities were being fired at higher rates than those without disabilities.

‘After hearing concerns from her constituents, Senator Duckworth is working to make sure that the federal government is a model employer that treats everyone fairly, including those with targeted disabilities,’ said Evan Keller, spokesperson for Duckworth.

In an email to NBC News, an OPM spokesperson said the agency is reviewing the letter and will respond ‘as appropriate.’

The White House did not respond to requests for comment.”

For the full story, visit NBC News here.







