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Terminated without warning after 22 months at the VA, despite stellar reviews. Jobless, uninsured, and heartbroken—but not defeated. This is my story, and I’m just getting started.

As a veteran and federal worker in the field of cybersecurity, I can tell you that Trump, Musk, DOGE and his DOGE workers (non-Civil Service Workers hired through loyalty) are the biggest insider threats the U.S. government has ever faced. 

What we are seeing now is a lack of understanding of routinization in government. When routinization fails, they will hire contractors to fill that gap at higher costs than before the federal employee cuts.

Federal employees are often criticized as unqualified, lazy, or absent—but these claims don’t reflect reality. Having led a federal agency, I saw firsthand the dedication, expertise, and hard work that keep essential government services running.

My position in legislative affairs is critical to agency functions as we correspond with respective committees and members of Congress—on both sides of the aisle—regarding bills that impact Federal public lands and waters.

My team and I—senior technologists—were assigned to the CDC, working across software systems, most notably CDC’s Disease Surveillance System. If we were ever going to learn the lessons we missed during Covid-19, this program was essential.

I worked for the IRS for 13 years as a Tax Examiner for business entities. In my job, we researched cases that the system or the customer service reps on the phones couldn't "fix."

It is a false dichotomy to say that we, the greatest nation on earth, cannot both take care of our own people and help the world to be a safer and more prosperous place.

At VA I worked for the Office of the Chief Technology Officer as the Information Security Lead for VA.gov and as Information Security Advisor to the CTO. I was a critical asset the team could not afford to lose. DOGE knew this when they fired me.

I work in one of the payment centers at the Social Security Administration. My job entails wearing many hats. I keep records, fix issues with the system, send letters, call beneficiaries, process claims, and a plethora of other things.

I work a 9 to 5 federal job. I’ve learned a lot at my work. I train when training is needed and I’ve been told I have a knack for the field that I’m in.

I translate complicated government language into plain English. So if (and when) you need to access your hard-earned benefits, file your taxes, or get help after a disaster, you can do it quickly and move on with your life.

I'm a Navy Veteran and IT Specialist with the US Geological Survey in a water science center in the western United States. While it has been a long time, I once held a security clearance when I was in the Navy. I know how confidential, secret, and top-secret information is supposed to be handled. 

I am sure you've been watching the attacks on federal employees in the Executive Branch, including the erosion of our protections and the outright illegal adverse actions taken against us over the last... oh my, has it really only been a month? So far, you have been spared, but make no mistake: They are coming for you next.

It is important to note that my orientation and framing of trauma and trauma-informed care is from a blended social and anti-pathology model. With this comes an understanding that any response to an overwhelming, stressful, and traumatic experience is normal. What people shared on this podcast does not indicate that they are abnormal, flawed, or defective.

I am writing to express my dismay and disbelief at my recent layoff from my position at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I supported several jurisdictions ensuring we were able to assist in mass vaccination tools and resources to minimize outbreaks.

We do this work with a tiny fraction of a federal agency's budget. In general, for every dollar spent on an OIG, we find dozens, if not hundreds of dollars of savings for the American people. We help fix inefficiencies in government programs, such as those that delay or prevent the quick awarding of grants appropriated by Congress. We also identify and stop fraudsters from stealing public funds. And there’s a lot in between.

They have a one-size-fits-all model of how they think things should work, which lacks nuance and depth, and leads them to see things that aren’t there.

Unlike a private company, the government has a duty to serve everyone fairly and correctly every time--not just most of the time.

In today’s digital world, we enter our personal information online all the time—when applying for jobs, getting healthcare, or even filing taxes. Government agencies and private companies collect and store this sensitive data, making them prime targets for theft. But what happens when that information is stolen

Imagine two approaches to improving a complex machine. One involves carefully studying the blueprints, understanding how each part interacts, and making precise adjustments to optimize performance. The other involves tearing out components that look broken or superfluous at first glance, then checking to see if the machine still runs without them.

There is a fundamental truth motivating the U.S. Digital Service that sets it apart from many other government agencies: You cannot build an app the same way you build a boat.