He technically had no factor to be working.
A Republican congressman is going viral for madly straight messaging a former Veterans Affairs staffer on LinkedIn after he asked about government job cuts.
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In the message, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisc.) showed up to threaten the ex-staffer with firing– apparently unaware that the man had already been let go.
A screenshot of the message was shared on X by WKOW 27 Information reporter JT Cestkowski, where it rapidly went viral.
“I have definitely no say in the employment standing of any kind of private in the executive branch nonetheless, I will certainly be referring you to DOGE as it seems that at 13: 46 on a Monday you ought to have been working for professionals, not publishing garbage regarding your boss, Head of state Trump,” Van Orden, that is a member of the House Board on Veterans’ Affairs, composed.
Van Orden’s message was directed to Tony Ruiz, that had worked as an experts solution agent at the Los Angeles VA.
According to the Washington Inspector, Ruiz, a handicapped professional, was granted VA Staff member of the Quarter and got a money incentive– yet was informed his shooting, which took place 2 weeks before the completion of his probationary period, was for to performance reasons.
Elon Musk’s Division of Government Performance (DOGE) formerly released directives ending the work of countless probationary employees.
Ruiz’s shooting came after he penned an op-ed mentioning he felt targeted by the Trump administration’s anti-DEI push while promising to proceed functioning.
“Just how can it be that I ultimately got my desire job after so many years, and yet now I have this circumstance where they intend to remove me in a feeling– not just as a government staff member, however additionally as a Latino, born from Mexican immigrants, who are legal, and as an Army expert that’s offering my nation proudly?” Ruiz wrote, according to his essay released by Service Expert.
He later ended: “Yet I’m not worried. And I have no intention of surrendering.”
Two service days after that essay was published, Ruiz was terminated.
Considering that his shooting, Ruiz says he has gone on the infraction, connecting to numerous legislators to review the layoffs, which seems what motivated Van Orden’s reaction.
And that caught social media’s attention.
“Exhibition top in the wrongful discontinuation lawsuit,” quipped one doubter.
“Every person needs to currently speak to [Van Orden] and advise him he helps us. Not DOGE and not Elon. This is disgraceful,” mentioned someone else.
“You benefit We The People and don’t you ever neglect that, sir. Examine on your own,” resembled one more commenter.
Rebecca Cooke, Van Orden’s previous Democratic challenger who has actually eyed a rematch in 2026, likewise provided a sharp rebuke.
“Scandalous. [Derrick Van Orden] bullies those who serve our experts. Who does he think he is?” Cooke wrote. “We can do far better for our professionals and all our communities.”
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