Justice Dept. Fires 21 in Cost-Cutting Effort

The Justice Department, in an effort to cut expenses, fired 21 employees Tuesday from its public affairs and legislative affairs staffs.

Of the 11 people laid off from the public affairs office, six are spokesmen, including two with more than 20 years of service.

Three of the four spokesmen who will be on the payroll after the cuts take effect Feb. 10 will be political appointees. “It was like a bomb went off,” said one fired spokesman, Brad Marman. “Stone shock.”

Also being laid off are 10 employees from the Office of Legislative Affairs, said Thomas Boyd, assistant attorney general in charge of that office. Those workers include professional and support staff, career and political appointees, he said.