President Donald Trump’s push to shut down US institutions for international development and remake the federal workforce has caused whiplash among those who have recently entered the public service, expecting a long and stable career.
Chrisna Patel, 23, said she applied for unemployment insurance last week after being fired from her job in a program partially run by USAID. She worked for just four months since completing her master’s degree in public health from Oregon State University last spring.
“I never expect that to happen to you, especially since the federal government is said to be safe and have great benefits for work,” she said.
Patel was one of the full-time contractors who were let go of recently several weeks after the Trump administration suspended foreign aid funds for 90 days.
The federal government is said to be safe and work safe.
Chrisna Patel, 23, former employee of Pepfer
Earlier this month, the administration moved to close USAID, an institution at the heart of humanitarian work overseas, placing thousands of staff on administrative leave. A federal judge temporarily suspended the case Friday, and this week’s court ruling slowed other White House efforts to cut federal workers.
However, for many contractors and workers in non-governmental organizations funded by USAID, the suspension is no use as it has already failed or been fired. The ruling on Friday allowed the State Department to continue its recent freeze on foreign aid funds while the hearing took place on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the White House is targeting so-called “probation” government staff.
“Now I have to pay rent. I have to pay bills for my limited income and anything that remains in my bank account,” Patel said, and she He added that he is applying for all sorts of jobs, including the private sector. “How much money did I leave behind to survive here?”
Young people who are attracted to working for government and other federally supported public service organizations often embrace financial trade-offs for opportunities that have an impact. According to the Institute of Economic Policy, a left-leaning think tank, government officials tend to be 17.6% less than similarly educated private sector workers. Considering the government’s interests, this difference is still 14.5%, the group found.
“At the end of the day, the job we do is help people, bringing our country a step closer to what we want to see,” he said, working for the US President’s emergency plan. Patel, who was there, said. AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a multi-agency program launched by George W. Bush in 2003, supports healthcare providers providing HIV-related care in more than 50 countries. “I’m absolutely disappointed to hear the voice, especially the current administration. Federal workers say they’re not doing what is expected,” she said.
Rowan Travis, 25, is not surprised he was fired from his contract role at the State Department on January 27th. He rushed to “pedal” in the final week to get the job done. His team if he is let go.
“In fact, I’ve been told several times that my position is likely to be removed,” he said.
Travis was the foreign support coordinator for Papua New Guinea. This analyses how US funding meets strategic goals. As a contractor, he recently secured a coveted job to join civil servants as direct employment at the State Department, but said that a federal employment freeze order cancelled the offer due to a freeze order signed at the inauguration ceremony. I stated.
When he last left his job on the 27th, Travis said he felt “awful.” “Even if you know that everyone around you know that it’s not your fault, it’s not a good feeling to have to leave your own office and say goodbye.”
Travis is currently facing a robust, slow job market that is saturated with young professionals. He sees work in both the public and private sectors, as he fears limited opportunities. He said that is the support he gets from his peers in similar circumstances.
As the USAID sign was stripped from its Washington, D.C. headquarters on Friday, the effects of the freeze on foreign aid have echoed through government agencies and organizations funded by them.
There are not many opportunities to work for the federal government in the future
Randychester, Vice President of the US Department of Foreign Affairs
In December, 25-year-old Zack Forrester received a “dream job” at Irex, a Washington-based non-governmental organization focused on civic education. This work was used in a combination of six years of undergraduate and graduate studies in international relations and public policy. He remembers wanting to be a high school foreign affairs officer and says his development job is far from perfect, but maintaining democracy around the world is an important tool.
“The industry took decades to establish, but now it’s just gone away in less than a week,” he said.
Forester said his organization was heavily cut to the workforce on January 31st. Approximately 84% of Irex’s funding comes from the US government, including USAID and the State Department. Forrester has a support system in the form of family and friends, but he said it’s difficult to interact in Washington.
“A lot of my colleagues and friends are very afraid of what’s just started,” he said.
Alex did not respond to requests for comment.
Randychester, the US Department of Foreign Affairs vice president who represents foreign services, fears that many young people on the field will move away from private companies and divert important parts of the public sector talent pipeline. USAID promoted foreign services to young people through fellowships and other programs.
“They will definitely quit their federal jobs,” predicted Chester. “I don’t think there will be many opportunities working for the federal government in the future.”
He said he has recently received more than 50 emails a day from members of the American Foreign Affairs Association, including members in their 20s, and has expressed concerns about their immediate and long-term future. But he said that new generation hasn’t accumulated pensions or accumulated benefits, so they’re being let go without much of the financial safety net.
Anyone I know in this space is mad. I think that’s an understatement.
Aidan Lowe, 24 years old, former church world service employee
Aidan Lowe, 24, spent his days helping refugees and asylum seekers find jobs in the United States. Almost 85% of the organization’s programs, including disaster relief, poverty alleviation and refugee resettlement, are funded by the government.
“Everyone I know in this space is angry, and I think that’s an understatement,” said Lowe, who works at the Church World Service Office in Miami.
“We are pleased to announce that we are committed to providing a range of services to our customers,” said Katherine Leberg, Vice President of Programs at CWS.
The organization is waiting for a $15 million refund from the State Department for programs that will be held in December and January, Rehberg said. CWS would have normally received these funds, she said, putting the group in a very financially difficult position, which required it and required it to “unprecedented” operational difficulties. caused it.
Lowe said he is worried about providing health insurance and living expenses on his part, but he is determined to stay in the humanitarian field.
“It motivates me more,” he said. “This piece feels more important than ever.”
