People of Civil Service: "I'm a disabled veteran..."

I don’t want to live in fear every day that I’ll be homeless, starving, or not able to take care of my animals.

I have had two people reach out to me to tell my story in hopes it will put a face to the ongoing federal job crisis. I decided that, even if it is only one person who learns the reality of what is going on, it was worth telling my side of the story. Just a quick note, I have left out some key information since I am still employed at the time of this letter.

Currently, I work for a DoD subdepartment as a finance individual in the Midwest. On Thursday, February 20, I was called into a group meeting by my supervisor. Two other coworkers and I were informed that we were going to be terminated Friday, February 21. Not because we were bad at our jobs or wasteful, but because we were probationary and easier to fire. That was essentially our entire finance department and included disabled veterans and people who just moved from out of state.

I am not a secret rich person getting wealthier at taxpayer expense. I’m a single guy who makes enough to pay my bills and make sure my pets can eat.

Friday came and it was emotional as I felt like my coworkers were my family. A friend of mine sent me a link from CNN showing the DoD did a pause on the mass firing. It was a slight morale boost, but then came the Musk emails which made things even more confusing. On Wednesday, February 26 I was told that only 70 of the roughly 2,300 probationary employees in our subdepartment were going to be fired. Although no explanation was given on how they were to be determined.

I’m so worn down by this whole situation. I’m a disabled veteran with depression and PTSD, which has been in overdrive because of the constant back and forth. Unlike what Trump and Musk say, I am not a secret rich person getting wealthier at taxpayer expense. I’m a single guy who makes enough to pay my bills and make sure my pets can eat. If I lose my job, I’m not sure I can keep my house or my car. The job market here is terrible, especially for people like me.

I have spent most of my career serving my country and various states.

I have spent most of my career serving my country and various states. I earned my job and work hard every day to make sure that taxpayer money is spent properly. I don’t see how firing me will make things better. I don’t want to live in fear every day that I’ll be homeless, starving, or not able to take care of my animals.

Please, do what you can to get congress and Musk to stop this. It’s not these caricature rich people getting let go. It’s hard-working people who are suddenly losing their jobs and careers.