Though it hasn’t happened yet, hundreds of civilian employees could be in line to lose their jobs at Tinker Air Force Base sometime this month.
Kansas media outlet, This Is Topeka, first reported about the possible layoffs. The outlet reported on Sunday that “approximately 600 federal civilian employees at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City will be terminated (Monday) morning, (February 24) according to a credible tip from the National Vice President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) for the 9th District.”
The story quickly spread throughout Oklahoma and many people posted on social media, saying they were frightened and concerned about the possibility of losing their job.
But while it appears that no layoffs have taken place on base yet, the source behind the story, Diana Hicks, national vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees for the 9th District, told The Oklahoman that even if the layoffs didn’t happen Monday, she expects them to take place this week.
A spokesman for Tinker Air Force Base’s Public Affairs office referred The Oklahoman to earlier comments made by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Hegseth, the statement said, has “indicated that the Pentagon is taking a deliberate, methodical approach to review its workforce and identify positions that may not directly contribute to warfighting success. There has been no direction to relieve Air Force employees at this time.”
More: Can fired federal workers collect unemployment benefits in Oklahoma? Here’s what to know
Federal agencies have instructed employees to ignore DOGE email on their duties
The confusion about the status of Tinker employees comes at the same time the Department of Defense told its employees to ignore, at least for now, an email requesting a list of their accomplishments for the past week. That email was touted by Elon Musk on social media.
“When and if required, the Department will coordinate responses to the email you have received from (the U.S. Office of Personnel Management),” the agency said on the social media site X. “For now, please pause any responses to the OPM email.”
Locally, municipal and state officials said they were seeking information from the federal government about Tinker’s status. Midwest City Mayor Matt Dukes said he has not received any notification about possible layoffs at the neighboring Air Force base.
The Lancer Gate off Douglas Boulevard at Tinker Air Force Base is pictured Monday.
“Tinker hasn’t reached out to me,” he said. “I’ve seen the same story but haven’t been able to confirm. I haven’t heard from any federal officials but just looking at what’s going on throughout the country, layoffs wouldn’t surprise me.”
The Del City Chamber of Commerce also reported that it hadn’t been made aware of any layoffs.
State officials, including House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson said she was contacting Oklahoma’s congressional delegation to get better information.
“People are frightened,” Munson said. “And we need to know what exactly is happening.”
None of the state’s congressional delegates contacted by The Oklahoman responded to requests for comment.
Greater Oklahoma City Chamber President Christy Gillenwater said she was aware of the story, and like the state lawmakers, was concerned by the potential fallout.
A senior airman makes last-minute checks Dec. 5, 2015, as the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 513th Air Control Group participates in a training exercise at Tinker Air Force Base near Midwest City.
Gillenwater said the OKC chamber was working with its partners to help anyone that could be laid off. “We’re trying to focus on Tinker, the FAA, the other federal entities and their employees right now,” she said. “We’ve taken steps to make sure the families of these employees and all these individuals out there know they are supported.”
Tinker is one of the largest employers in the state with more than 26,000 military and civilian employees. Civilian employees at the base cover everything from aircraft maintenance and logistics to cybersecurity, and administrative support.
Choctaw Mayor Chad Allcox also shared the story on Facebook, writing that the federal workforce is “under attack.”
“To be clear, I support the movement President Trump has built, but I do not support what his team is doing to federal employees, especially in the Department of Defense,” Allcox wrote. “Those who work to protect this country deserve better than this treatment. If we don’t implement a phased, structured approach to fixing our government, we’re not just hurting today’s workforce — we are crippling our future. At this rate, it could take decades to rebuild what’s being recklessly torn apart right now.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tinker Air Force Base layoffs may be coming soon, union official says
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