Sherry Linkon, professor at the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University, joined America's Workforce Union Podcast to discuss the deindustrialization of Washington, D.C., the impact of federal job cuts and the ongoing attacks on higher education.
Linkon highlighted the parallels between the recent federal job cuts in Washington, D.C., and the historical deindustrialization of cities like Youngstown, Ohio. While D.C. benefits from a diversified economy, the significant downsizing of federal jobs poses a threat to the local workforce. Thousands of government workers are now facing unemployment, echoing the struggles of industrial workers in the past. Linkon noted that many of these workers, despite having college and graduate degrees, are finding it difficult to secure new employment, drawing a stark comparison to the challenges faced by laid-off industrial workers decades ago.
The conversation also delved into the Trump administration's attacks on higher education, particularly elite private institutions. Linkon explained how cuts to federal grants for scientific research are affecting universities' budgets and operations. These cuts threaten faculty positions and jeopardize the jobs of countless staff and student workers who rely on these funds.
Linkon also addressed the recent wave of campus protests and the political attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. While Georgetown has been somewhat insulated from these issues, the broader trend of targeting universities for their DEI efforts is concerning, she said. The Trump administration's approach to cutting funding for institutions that engage in activities they disagree with is a strategic move to undermine higher education's role in fostering critical thinking and social progress. Linkon emphasized the need to recognize these attacks as part of a larger political strategy to influence public perception and policy.
Listen to the full episode of America's Workforce Union Podcast to gain deeper insights from Sherry Linkon on these critical topics.