Anonymous Federal Worker

I keep thinking, and I'll try and say this without crying. A couple of years ago, I was working for the federal government about 15 hours a day. I did that because I believed in the work. And so I can't describe how hurtful it is to receive an email saying that you should go from a less productive public space to go to a more productive private space and work there.

I keep thinking, and I'll try and say this without crying. A couple of years ago, I was working for the federal government about 15 hours a day. I did that because I believed in the work. And so I can't describe how hurtful it is to receive an email saying that you should go from a less productive public space to go to a more productive private space and work there.

It was so hurtful to receive that email, especially coming from a government email address.

It was so hurtful to receive that email, especially coming from a government email address.

And just the presumption that I'm going to put this in front of you and you're going to jump at it. It insults the fact that we are there because we want to be there. We feel strongly about the mission of the agency.

And just the presumption that I'm going to put this in front of you and you're going to jump at it. It insults the fact that we are there because we want to be there. We feel strongly about the mission of the agency.

If anything, it's cemented my sense of resolve to stay in the job that I love, that provides for my family, that improves my community.

If anything, it's cemented my sense of resolve to stay in the job that I love, that provides for my family, that improves my community.

The future of USAID, that's the U.S. Agency for International Development, is uncertain.

The future of USAID, that's the U.S. Agency for International Development, is uncertain.

Once my friends of friends started saying, yeah, I'm at USAID, we have no idea how we're going to get our medicine next week because our health insurance is being cut off maybe. That was when it started to sink in like, oh, this could be coming for me.

Once my friends of friends started saying, yeah, I'm at USAID, we have no idea how we're going to get our medicine next week because our health insurance is being cut off maybe. That was when it started to sink in like, oh, this could be coming for me.

You know, especially in the wake of USAID being dismantled, it sort of feels like we're next on the chopping block.

You know, especially in the wake of USAID being dismantled, it sort of feels like we're next on the chopping block.

I have been concerned about my job because I was a probationary employee, which just means that I was a newer hire.

I have been concerned about my job because I was a probationary employee, which just means that I was a newer hire.

And being a probation employee, I was like, I know that it's, you know, I'm at a higher risk of losing my job, but there's nothing I can do about it. I'm going to keep coming to work every single day.

And being a probation employee, I was like, I know that it's, you know, I'm at a higher risk of losing my job, but there's nothing I can do about it. I'm going to keep coming to work every single day.

Essentially, a request came to put together a list of employees in their probationary period.

Essentially, a request came to put together a list of employees in their probationary period.