Chris the Veteran Hits Close to Home for Fox News Host

NEW YORK, NY — Fox News host Jesse Watters expressed concern on Wednesday regarding the federal employee layoffs following a mass firing initiative led by former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Watters revealed that one of the individuals affected is a friend, identified only as Chris, a military veteran who has recently learned his job at the Pentagon is at risk.

During the airing of ‘The Five,’ Watters shared Chris’s story, a 20-year veteran who served honorably in the U.S. military. “This guy is not a DEI consultant. He’s not a climate consultant. This guy is a veteran,” Watters stated emphatically, imploring Trump to consider the impact of mass layoffs on veterans. “When you’re talking about DOGE-ing people, veterans should get priority because they have put their lives on the line for this country.”

Watters noted that Chris, who recently accepted a position at the Pentagon, is currently in a probationary period and has learned he may soon be laid off. “He’s going to get DOGE’d,” Watters lamented, reflecting on a text he received from Chris expressing disappointment about the situation. Watters urged his fellow hosts to understand that those targeted for layoffs deserve compassion, especially when they have served their country.

This plea contrasted sharply with the typical support for mass federal employee cuts expressed by Watters and others in right-wing media circles. His emotional response highlighted a broader issue as many federal employees, including veterans, face job uncertainties amid the ongoing restructuring of the federal workforce.

In the same episode, Watters noted the implications of these layoffs on national security, stating, “Many of these employees are vital to operations. This isn’t just about one person’s job; it’s about maintaining a capable workforce. When Trump and Musk make these cuts, they should consider the consequences more carefully.”

Meanwhile, the controversy around Trump and Musk’s governance model continues to escalate. Since the announcement of DOGE, the former administration has encountered legal challenges, including scrutiny over whether Musk’s role as a senior adviser holds any official power.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan recently issued a temporary restraining order against Musk’s actions related to DOGE, asserting that there was still uncertainty about the potential harm caused by their initiatives. In a previous ruling, Judge John Bates noted that DOGE should be considered an agency, raising questions about the sustenance of governmental transparency and accountability under Trump’s administration.

Watters’s emotional connection to Chris, the veteran about to be laid off, has sparked reactions from viewers and commentators alike, many of whom underscore the selective empathy displayed by right-leaning media personalities when their own communities are affected. Comments on social media captured this sentiment, with viewers criticizing the hypocrisy inherent in Watters’ conversation.

The situation within the Pentagon remains tense as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a memo outlining plans for potential budget cuts and layoffs, which could severely impact DOD operations. Proposals for slashing up to 8 percent of the defense budget annually over the next five years indicate a drastic change in military funding, compounded by the cuts from federal agencies that have historically maintained crucial functions.