"Doge Inc., led by Elon Musk, reportedly dismissed U.S. government employees "out of the blue" without offering any form of monetary reimbursement"
In the past hundred days, the U.S. is still reeling from Donald Trump's return to power, and Elon Musk's appointment as head of the Department of Governmental Efficiency. Even the Doge has managed to sow chaos, with approximately 280,000 people reportedly losing their jobs across 27 government agencies. However, the truth behind this mass exodus may not be as straightforward as it seems.
Our website spoke with two women who used to work as USAID subcontractors, the U.S. Agency for International Development. One of them, Jacqueline de Wein, found herself out of a job after seven years as a consultant. She received an email on January 28, telling her she was let go, "Eight days after the start of this administration, it was already over for me, without notice, without other compensation."
Many Colleagues Left High and Dry
Fortunately, Jacqueline quickly secured another job and considers herself fortunate compared to her former colleagues. She has a small pension from her former employer, the World Bank, and has managed to land a teaching job, albeit paying a mere 20th of what she earnerd previously. Most of her colleagues, however, are left with nothing more than unemployment insurance.
Xioma, 30, and a fellow USAID subcontractor, received $350 a week in unemployment benefits. She moved to Houston, Texas, a few months before being let go on February 7. With the lower cost of living and unemployment benefits, Xioma can pay her rent, but that's about it.
The American Dream Fading
Originally from Nigeria, Xioma arrived in the U.S. at age fourteen. Although she still has her health insurance for the time being, she faces unemployment as of May. She laments the state of affairs in America, stating, "It's not good to be American right now."
Jacqueline concurs, confessing that she can't sleep due to worries about the future. She is even contemplating leaving the country. "It's not just moving, it's a little more complicated, and I haven't completely decided," she explains. She's been in the U.S. for over 30 years and had never considered leaving before.
While it's unclear whether 280,000 government employees have truly lost their jobs due to the administration's actions, it's evident that the layoffs have had a profound impact on some. Their stories serve as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of policy changes and economic instability.
- Elon Musk, now heading the Department of Governmental Efficiency, inherited a challenging situation marked by job losses across 27 government agencies, with an approximate total of 280,000 individuals affected.
- Two former USAID subcontractors shared their experiences of losing their jobs, echoing a growing concern about the current administration's impact on employment.
- Jacqueline de Wein, a seven-year veteran as a consultant, found herself unemployed after receiving an email on January 28, less than two weeks into the new administration.
- Xioma, another former USAID subcontractor, received unemployment benefits of $350 per week and moved to Houston, Texas, but faces unemployment as of May.
- Despite the American Dream being a beacon for immigrants, stories like Xioma's illustrate the current economic uncertainties and raises questions about the long-term effects of ongoing policy changes and instability in areas such as war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice.
