At the awkward hour of 12:47 a.m, a certain individual received the news of his termination through an email, another emotionally held on to colleagues as security guided her out. A third was racing against the clock to fulfill her prescription, having been handed a mere 24-hour notice of her imminent healthcare termination. And then, there was Jacqueline Devine, part of the H.I.V.-AIDS office at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), primarily operating in sub-Saharan Africa for H.I.V treatment.
The behavioral scientist found herself tossed in the storm of an unexpected mass layoff in her Washington office on January 28. The termination was cold, offering her no severance package. ‘I’m oscillating through the various stages of grief, it appears to be far from a linear process,’ Devine shared in a recent interview. Her emotions were a whirlwind, constantly bouncing between anger and sorrow.
Night times are particularly challenging for her. ‘My nights are spent either battling insomnia or sleeping to momentarily escape the harsh reality of my situation,’ she said. ‘Waking up in the middle of the night at 1 or 2 a.m. to the resurfacing reality and finding it impossible to drift back into oblivion.’ Among the numerous casualties of the Trump administration’s onslaught on the federal bureaucracy, the collective voice of the employees seems to have been swept under the carpet.
Numerous individuals who were either terminated or living on borrowed time expressed a feeling of being muzzled by Elon Musk. His unabashed posts, painting USAID in the light of a ‘rogue organization’ that he funneled ‘into the wood-chipper’ essentially makes them live in constant fear of reprisals. A fraction of those affected do not wish to make a public statement either owing to looming lawsuits or instructions from their relevant agencies.
Despite this, a handful of courageous individuals from USAID, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Justice Department chose to break their silence last week. Some preferred the shield of anonymity, requesting only their first names be used, while others were willing to give their full names.
Employees at USAID lived in constant fear for their colleagues stationed overseas who were being commanded to return home. They voiced their grave concerns, stating this abrupt eradication of a foreign assistance agency, worth $40 billion, could translate into lost lives due to war, disease, or famine. For now, judicial intervention has put some of these plans on hold.
In alignment with the agenda of doing away with USAID, President Trump, last Friday, specifically called for its closure. He conveyed his intentions rather succinctly on social media with the statement ‘CLOSE IT DOWN.’ A battle appears to have been waged against federal employees, which has resulted in individuals like Devine feeling betrayed and helpless.
Such initiatives are indicative of the decision-making process and management style native to certain arenas of the government. Employees have expressed feelings of displacement and rejection, with incidents like abrupt terminations via email adding to their dismay. The lack of prior consultation, support, or empathy has left them feeling like tokens in a political chess game.
The echo in their voices is a demand for accountability and answers. Important questions, such as the rationale behind shutting down USAID—a major foreign assistance agency—maintain an uncomfortable presence. Particularly when threats such as famine, war-outbreaks, and major diseases are daunting realities in numerous parts of the world.
When layoffs become the order of the day, it leads to a sense of anxiety and apprehension among employees, fostered by the unpredictability of their job security. Many find themselves on the edge, always waiting for the next layoff round, sometimes following biting tweets from figures of authority no less.
The emotional toll taken by employees, like Devine, from the sudden severance is magnified by the abruptness with which it occurs. It is difficult for these days not to turn into nightmares marked by restlessness and a feeling of abandonment.
The image painted from these accounts is one of a hostile work environment, where employees are left to deal with the negative repercussions of sudden policy changes. They are left in a state of constant dread, never knowing if their name is up on the next chopping block.
Apart from being critical of the lack of consultation in decision making, they are also concerned about the rationale or the lack thereof behind such unilateral decisions and rapid execution of the same.
The wrath of the layoff wave extends beyond individual suffering. The untimely recall of overseas workers could potentially disrupt ongoing initiatives, setting back progress made in crucial areas such as disease treatment and prevention.
The collective outburst of the affected, though stifled, demands notice. They seek answers, clarity, and reassurance amidst the upheaval. Their concerns echo how unchecked authority and swift policy changes can lead to an unsettling work environment where uncertainty looms large.
The overarching narrative reeks of fear, apprehension, and an overarching climate of uncertainty. The essence here lies not just in questioning the motives behind singular actions but also understanding their cumulative impact on a workforce seeking stability and assurance.