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.
I’m a father, a husband, and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran that was hired by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) in April of 2024. My undergraduate degree was paid for by the GI Bill. My graduate degree was paid for by the Veteran Readiness and Employment program (VR&E) through the VA. The job I was terminated from was sent to me by my VR&E counselor because of the work that the VA performs was beyond paying for tuition and fees.
After more than a decade in the private sector, I applied for the Financial Administrative Specialist position that was sent to me, and every day of work was confirmation that I had made the best decision I could have for me and my family. I was performing well, given opportunities to travel and increase my knowledge and skills, and supported as I looked for leadership opportunities to grow within the agency.
In fact, on Tuesday February 25, I was scheduled to take part in a national kick-off call to start the VA wide Aspiring Supervisor Program. Instead, I was starting my first day of unemployment because an email from outside of my agency told me that my agency did not think my performance was good for the interest of the general public.
The same agency that personally sent me the job posting, has provided nothing but positive feedback, allowed me the opportunity to make myself a more qualified candidate for a leadership position, and referred to me as mission critical at the beginning of this shake-up, was now supposedly deciding my performance did not justify further employment.
The people actually making these decisions are hiding behind lies and falling in line with the implementation of intentional chaos throughout the federal government. It is as cowardly as it is demeaning. I loved my agency, the people I worked with, and the work I got to do for veterans. I was terminated because it seemed easy to do for a probationary employee, but this is only the beginning, and they aren’t going to stop here.
Reach out to us here.
AFGE has partnered with other labor unions and allied organizations to form Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
