Trump Tragedies features American workers whose lives were destroyed by Trump and his extremist policies. Testimonies submitted to AFGE are edited for clarity and length.
From Jan. 21 until Feb.24, it was the anxiety of not knowing: not knowing if I would be fired and put on admin leave, then I was put on admin leave and it was the anxiety of not knowing if we would be paid because we didn't know who was around to submit timesheets. It was the anxiety of wondering how I’m going to pay my bills if I was terminated.
The cruelty on the part of Trump, Musk, DOGE and their compliant Republicans really confounds me. Sending emails after hours and on weekends to be cruel on purpose. What kind of people are they? Being cruel and evil just to be cruel and evil. I don’t understand this, and I’m glad I don’t understand their ways. I never want to be like them. They are purposely using psychological torture tactics on us to make us quit, discourage us, and to make us give up. It makes me sick and angry just thinking it.
I have no idea how I am going to pay my rent, afford medication
I was terminated on Feb. 24,2025. I am stressed and worried. I have no idea how I am going to pay my rent after March 31. I was not notified about COBRA benefits or if my annual leave will be paid out. I have to assume my vision and dental were cut immediately on Feb. 24 and that my medical will expire around March 23, 2025. Have they communicated with TSP to release our pensions? Who knows. We haven’t received SF 8 [Unemployment Insurance forms] either. If and when they do send them, I have no idea if they are going to send them to my personal email because all other communications about my administrative leave and dismissal went to my USAID email. I have no idea how I am going to afford my medication.
Bad job market
I've been looking for new jobs since Jan. 27, 2025, however, the job market was bad well before the election. Now it's flooded with former federal government employees, with more who will be fired in the coming weeks. There are so many contracting agencies that depend on federal government contract money. But with this administration doing budget cuts and hiring freezes, the contracting agencies may not be able to hire people because of their dependance on the federal government for money. This means another big avenue of possible employment has closed to those of us in the area.
I have made the hard decision to leave Maryland if I cannot find full time employment by March 31. I'm so embarrassed to have to go to my leasing agency and tell them I have to break my lease because I cannot afford to pay the last 6-7 months of my lease. This I just...I have no words. Thanks for reading my vent and thank you for all of the amazing work you all have been doing on our behalf. Sending you all continuous love and energy!
AFGE has partnered with other labor unions and allied organizations to form Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network.
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AFGE and other AFL-CIO and unions representing workers across private and public sector industries sued the Trump administration over its dismantling of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
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Week 13 saw Trump ignoring the Supreme Court’s order, intimidating lawmakers, threatening universities, and floating the idea of sending U.S. citizens to foreign prisons.
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