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Judge Weighs in on Mass Firings; Justine Beaulieu is Interviewed about being Fired; Brian Boitano is Interviewed about Legacy on Ice. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired February 28, 2025 - 09:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[09:30:00]

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Over the course of just a month, and the largest in Texas in decades. What are you all doing at the state level to try and -- to try and contain this? And do you feel like you have a good handle on the spread currently going on there?

DR. JENNIFER SHUFORD, COMMISSIONER, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES: So we are ramping up vaccine efforts all across that region of the state. We know that the MMR vaccine, which is mumps, measles, and rubella contains that measles vaccine, is very effective and provides long-lasting immunity, long-lasting protection. And so we are trying to really get that vaccine out to all the people in that region who might not be up to date on their measles vaccine.

We know that there's been 146 cases, and 20 of them have been in the hospital. Many of them have had pneumonia, and one child has died. And so we don't want that to happen to any more of our population. And so we are working to get vaccines out aggressively across that region to provide the best protection that we possibly can against measles.

JIMENEZ: And, you know, while I have you here, I just want to clear some things up as well, because I know you all have been in touch with Health and Human Services throughout this. And Secretary Kennedy Jr. did say, there were two deaths at one point and that measles outbreaks are not unusual. Can you confirm the death toll still stands at one? And based on what you typically deal with infectious disease-wise, I mean, is this outbreak usual for you?

SHUFORD: So there has only been one death that we know of in Texas associated with this outbreak. And so, yes, the death count stays at one. This outbreak is unusual for Texas. We haven't had this sort of an outbreak since the early 1990s, and it's seriously impacting the population in that region. And so we're taking this very seriously and using many resources to try to contain it.

JIMENEZ: And I know it's still early. You all are looking at a number of factors, but I mean, how much do you attribute this spread to lack of vaccinations?

SHUFORD: The MMR vaccine, the measles vaccine, has been effective through decades. We know that that vaccine was the reason why we could declare the United States eliminated from measles, or measles eliminated from the United States back in the year 2000. It was based on the effectiveness of that vaccine.

And in areas where we see declining vaccine coverage, we see increases of measles outbreaks. And so we are concerned that the lowering -- the lower vaccine coverage rates that we're seeing in some communities just make them a lot more vulnerable to these measles outbreaks. And this community has had some falling vaccine coverage rates in recent years.

And so we're trying to correct that, trying to get vaccines out there to protect our population and to try to get rid of this measles outbreak that's affecting them right now.

JIMENEZ: And the last thing, just quickly before we go. You've worked in medicine for decades, have you ever dealt with a measles outbreak personally in the work that you've done?

SHUFORD: No. Since measles was declared eliminated in the United States in the year 2000, I haven't had a lot of chances. We only have sporadic travel-related cases usually, and I haven't had a chance to take care of a patient with measles.

But if we continue to see decreases in our vaccine coverage rate, we'll see more and more cases. And our doctors here in Texas and across the United States will have the opportunity to take care of more measles cases one-on-one.

JIMENEZ: Dr. Jennifer Shuford, really appreciate the time and perspective. Thanks for being here.

SHUFORD: Yeah, thank you.

JIMENEZ: Of course.

All right, coming up, no authority whatsoever under any statute in the history of the universe. I am quoting from a scathing ruling from a federal judge directed at the administration's federal purge efforts.

And she was part of the purge, just days before she was set to give birth. We're going to speak with a federal employee who had her life upended by the administration.

Stay with us.

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[09:38:54]

JIMENEZ: New this morning, a federal judge is blocking the Trump administration and DOGE's efforts to slash the federal workforce. Now the judge in San Francisco ruled that mass firings of probationary federal employees are likely unlawful. Labor unions and nonprofits are suing on behalf of thousands of probationary employees who have lost their jobs.

CNN's Rene Marsh joins me now from Washington.

So, Rene, what else did the judge say?

RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Omar, this judge essentially said that OPM overstepped its authority when it directed the mass firing of thousands of probationary employees government wide. And the judge, who was appointed by Bill Clinton, also said, and I'm quoting, "OPM does not have any authority whatsoever under any statute in the history of the universe to hire or fire any employees but its own." So, very strong words from this judge here on this.

And at the heart of this lawsuit is this February 14th OPM memo asking agencies to send separation letters as soon as possible to probationary employees who they deem nonessential. Now, probationary employees are those who have been on the job a year or two years or less.

[09:40:05]

The judge ordered OPM to rescind its directive and also to inform several agencies that it had no power to dictate these firings. But the lawyers for the Trump administration argued that OPM only made a request, not a demand, and that agencies weren't obligated to follow. The judge wasn't buying that. The acting head of OPM also made the same argument.

But the judge also acknowledged that agencies themselves do have the authority to fire probationary workers within their own agencies. And the judge also said that he himself could not order the government to necessarily reinstate previously fired workers. So, it really is still a bit unclear what the full impact of this ruling will be on the thousands of probationary employees who were fired.

It's also worth noting that this ruling came on the same day that NOAA laid off some 800 of its workers. Many of them were probationary.

Omar.

JIMENEZ: Rene, appreciate the reporting. I'm also going to have to use, in the history of the universe, much more often, if it's being used in legal documents.

MARSH: Yes, me too.

JIMENEZ: Appreciate the reporting.

Sara.

MARSH: For sure.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: That's quite a thing coming from a judge there.

All right, continuing the conversation with a federal worker in California who just lost her job and lost it days before giving birth.

Joining me now, Doctor Justine Beaulieu.

Thank you so much for coming in and speaking with me this morning.

I want to talk to you about the federal judge in San Francisco just saying that the firings of provisional workers are likely unlawful, but that those already fired probably will not get their jobs back. What are your plans upon hearing something like that?

JUSTINE BEAULIEU, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEE FIRED DAYS BEFORE GIVING BIRTH: Yes, that - I - I don't have any hope in getting my job back at this point. So, not planning on that. Looking for jobs. I've - I've - I have a small network of colleagues who are sending me links and future openings that I'm keeping track of. And I think one - one deadline is coming up, so I'm already working on my CV.

SIDNER: All right. How did you find out you had been terminated? Like, was it a message from DOGE or from the department that you worked for?

BEAULIEU: It was from the USDA OPM office. And first I got a - a call from my supervisor, and basically saying, you know, you should expect this email by the end of the day. And I sat there for an hour and a half waiting for that email to come through. It actually came through the next morning.

SIDNER: In what capacity were you serving the American people?

BEAULIEU: I was what's called a risk manager working for APHIS. It's within the USDA. And I was in charge of helping a group of other risk managers and policy analysts open up market access to folks trying to import and export plant material into and from the United States. So, you know, our chief responsibility was just, you know, making sure that pests, pathogens, insects, things like that, that are foreign to the United States, don't come in to the country on plant material. And that's purely to protect American agriculture.

SIDNER: What is your biggest concern as you see these layoffs happening in such big numbers in places like the USDA or other agencies? What is your biggest concern that what might happen, because there are so many fewer employees to look out for things, like you said, like pathogens coming into the U.S. that could have a devastating effect on agriculture?

BEAULIEU: Yes, I mean, it's - I have sat and thought about it for a while. It's like, you know, the imagination can really run wild. It's - it's, you know, from - from not being able to grow a specific crop in a specific state because of these pathogens or insects, or, you know, perhaps even throughout the whole country. You know, grower livelihoods, farmer livelihoods are at stake, absolutely. I think it could potentially -

SIDNER: Just give us a second. We're having a technical glitch. As you know, this happens all the time when we're using things like Zoom to - to do interviews. So, let's just see if Justine can still hear me.

Oh, I think we lost her.

All right, you were just hearing from Justine Beaulieu. She worked for the USDA. She was very concerned that the number of people being fired could lead to real potential health effects, not only for farms and farmers and all the things that they do, but for the American public.

[09:45:02]

So, we will see what happens as she is currently looking for a new job.

All right, coming up, all eyes are on Washington as President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy meet with the future of Russia's war hanging in the balance.

And the devastating crash over the Potomac River has impacted so many people across the nation. Perhaps none more than the figure skating community. Legendary skater Brian Boitano co-hosting an event to honor their memory. The details behind Legacy on Ice, ahead.

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[09:50:01]

SIDNER: All right, January's deadly plane collision over the Potomac sent shockwaves across the country. It became the deadliest aviation disaster in nearly a quarter century, killing 67 people aboard a commercial flight and a military helicopter.

The figure skating community was hit especially hard because more than 20 people on board that American Airlines flight were attending a U.S. figure skating development camp.

This weekend, a special event called Legacy on Ice will honor their memory.

And joining us now, we're so lucky to have him, Olympic Gold Medalist Brian Boitano. You are co-hosting this event with fellow Olympic champ Kristi Yamaguchi, two huge names in the skating community. What can you tell us that we will see?

BRIAN BOITANO, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST: Thank you. And since you said two huge names, we have a lot of the legends coming, from Peggy Fleming to Nathan Chen, Nancy Kerrigan, Scott Hamilton, so a lot of the legends are attending. But, you know, this event is a tribute to the victims of the flight and because the figure skating community is so tight knit and connected, it's really an example of how the strength of the skating family is there to support each other in loss and in hope.

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And, Brian, can you tell us a little bit about where the proceeds will go to this? Obviously, this impacted the skating community so significantly but such a wider tragedy as well.

BOITANO: All the proceeds are going to go to the victims' families So, all the contributions will go directly to the victims' families. And already they're giving money away for the victims to deal, you know, with the tragedy, you know, the things right away in the tragedy.

SIDNER: I understand that you were good friends with Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were both traveling with the team as coaches. What can you tell us about those two coaches?

BOITANO: Wow. You know, they were world champions in pairs. And apart from being such amazing skaters, they were also incredible people. They were teaching the future of American skating. They, you know, had a lot of students and they actually left behind, behind their son, Maxim, who I actually gave his award in Wichita on Sunday because he placed fourth in the senior men's division. And I saw his father that day and just waved to him from a distance. But that's, you know, the last time that we saw them.

So, my heart goes out to them. I mean, my heart goes out to all of the people who have lost someone on the flight, but especially I keep thinking about Maxim, the son who has been left behind. He's an only child. He's has a really, you know, great skating future. And I do believe that he may be performing in Legacy on Ice this weekend.

SIDNER: What an incredible moment that'll be.

JIMENEZ: Really, I mean, the stories of resilience that are going to come from this from something so awful and horrific, it's hard to put into words. I mean, how is the skating community moving forward or trying to, I guess, I should say, after such a devastating loss of young talent, for example?

BOITANO: Omar, you know, we are a very resilient group. I mean, we have learned how to fall and get up and build, you know, and build again. Actually, this isn't the first tragic airline crash that we have been through in 1961. We lost our entire world team going on the way on to the world championships in Belgium.

So, we've done this before, but we are a resilient group, and we are there for each other. And it's a very small, close knit community, and so the ripple effect, it hits all of us. And that's why we, as you know, whatever the older people in the sport, or as you call legends, are coming together with all of the current world team skaters. They are all going to be there and perform. And so it's just it's a group effort it's something that we can show that we all come together to support the people who have lost so much.

SIDNER: It's a beautiful thing to do and it's such a beautiful sport to watch. It was beautiful watching the two coaches there actually perform.

Brian, I just wanted to lastly ask you, this might be a bit cheeky of me, but are you going to do a triple axel?

BOITANO: In my brain, I will be doing all the triple axels that you'd want. But I am putting on my skates. I'm going to put on my skates. I'm going to skate to center ice to introduce people and to introduce the show. And then I'll skate back. So, that's about as much as I want to do right now.

SIDNER: Listen, it's more than I can do, my friend. It's more than I can do. I'd be on my butt like before I even touch the ice, I would be out.

[09:55:01]

So, it will be beautiful to see you do that. And I think the families are -- ultimately, this is a real tribute and a beautiful thing to do. So, thank you to you and all of the amazing skaters, Olympians who are going to take part in this as well as others.

JIMENEZ: Thank you, Brian.

BOITANO: Well, thank you so much. Thank you guys.

SIDNER: All right.

JIMENEZ: And before we go, a routine bus ride turned into a nightmare for more than a dozen Ohio middle schoolers when their bus suddenly caught on fire. Thankfully, they all got out safely. But here's how one student said they were able to get out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRITT MOSBY, 13-YEAR-OLD STUDENT: The bus just caught on fire. And we were all scared. We called our parents. But luckily the bus driver got us all safe and he already called for a backup.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Geez.

JIMENEZ: Now, the school district credits the bus driver's quick response and yearly bus evacuation drills for the students safe escape. I don't know what kind of drills you're running, but I don't know if you can prepare for that.

SIDNER: Listen, I am proud of that - kudos to the bus driver.

JIMENEZ: Kudos.

SIDNER: What an incredible person to - we - we know how we were on the bus.

JIMENEZ: Yes, I was not -

SIDNER: OK.

JIMENEZ: I wouldn't have been ready.

SIDNER: Unruly is the word I would use.

Speaking of which, we got to go.

JIMENEZ: Bye.

SIDNER: We're going to be unruly. It's the weekend. Have a great day. "CNN NEWSROOM," up next.

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