Federal Job Cuts and Political Division Threaten El Paso's Economy

Partisan gridlock in Congress puts thousands of El Pasoans at financial risk, highlighting the need for bipartisan leadership.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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A recent 43-day government shutdown and ongoing federal job cuts have put thousands of El Paso residents who work for the government at financial risk. The cuts, driven by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, have impacted families across the U.S. and disproportionately affected El Paso, where the government is the largest employer. The author argues that the lack of bipartisanship in Congress, including votes by Texas Senators Cornyn and Cruz to support the job cuts, is harming the local economy and putting vulnerable residents at risk of losing critical benefits and services.

Why it matters

El Paso's economy is heavily reliant on government jobs, which have traditionally been seen as more stable than private sector employment. The recent federal job cuts and partisan gridlock in Congress threaten the livelihoods of thousands of El Pasoans and the broader economic well-being of the community. This highlights the urgent need for bipartisan cooperation to protect jobs and ensure access to essential government services and benefits.

The details

The recent 43-day government shutdown left thousands of federal workers in El Paso either without pay or receiving partial compensation. While active duty military personnel were paid, civilian government employees faced significant financial hardship. El Paso's largest employer is the government, with over 40,000 people working at Fort Bliss alone. Tens of thousands more are employed by federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Veterans Affairs. The Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency has overseen significant federal job cuts, with 292,294 total government jobs lost nationwide in the first half of 2025. These cuts have disproportionately impacted El Paso, and the author argues they are not merely a product of the economic climate, but rather a result of partisan political decisions.

  • From January to July of 2025, the U.S. government cut 292,294 total jobs, the most of any sector.
  • In 2026, the government shutdown lasted 43 days before finally concluding.

The players

Keira Jensen

The author of the opinion piece, who was born and raised in El Paso and is currently studying at Columbia University.

Donald Trump

The former President who announced the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency, which has overseen the federal job cuts.

Elon Musk

The main architect of the Department of Government Efficiency, who has admitted the department has only been "somewhat successful" in its goals.

Veronica Escobar

The U.S. Representative for El Paso, who has voted against the federal job cuts.

John Cornyn

The U.S. Senator for Texas, who has voted in favor of the federal job cuts, putting thousands of El Pasoans at risk.

Ted Cruz

The other U.S. Senator for Texas, who has also voted in favor of the federal job cuts, putting thousands of El Pasoans at risk.

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What they’re saying

“While partisanship has become an unavoidable fixture in American politics, the choice to support actions that directly harm those you serve on the grounds of sticking to a political party is unacceptable.”

— Keira Jensen, Author (elpasomatters.org)

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

— Abraham Lincoln (elpasomatters.org)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.