Federal workers help keep our food, workplaces and environment safe. Thousands carry out critical missions like weather forecasting, disaster relief and medical care. Federal employees and their families are our neighbors who live, work and send their children to schools across Alabama.

But waves of firings in recent weeks have targeted federal employees who serve Alabamians in every sector of society. In some of our communities with the best growth rates and highest standards of living, such as Huntsville and Madison, federal workers are the primary driver of recent economic improvements and quality-of-life gains throughout the region.

Read our new blog post on why federal workers are vital to Alabama's economy.

On our blog, Arise’s Dev Wakeley examines how federal employment has extended economic opportunity to workers across Alabama, including women, veterans and people of color. And he explains the importance of standing up against attacks on critical public services that underpin our entire economy and society.