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USAID is facing significant changes after 50 senior staff members were put on leave, signage was removed from headquarters, and their computer system was compromised. Elon Musk claims Donald Trump has authorized him to shut down the agency, leading to a directive for staff not to report to work. USAID plays a crucial role in providing billions in humanitarian aid to combat famine and disease in developing countries, which is vital to prevent influence from nations like China and Russia. The situation raises concerns about Musk's involvement, as he is not an elected official and has government contracts globally. While he claims to address issues, the motivations behind his actions remain unclear, highlighting the need for transparency.

NBC News reports that USAID staff are being told to shred and burn classified documents. An email obtained by NBC News indicates that this document destruction was scheduled for Tuesday. The email from Erica Carr, the agency's acting executive secretary, advises staff to prioritize shredding and use burn bags when the shredder is unavailable. Having worked in government, I've never encountered a situation where so much shredding was required that the shredder's downtime was anticipated. A source who recently left USAID also found this unusual, noting they'd never heard of burning or shredding federal records at USAID. Typically, document burning occurs at embassies facing imminent takeover to prevent classified information from falling into the wrong hands, which is not the case here.

After three weeks of training, the speaker received a litigation hold and a memo granting permission to fire probationary employees from the capital c section who had been moved within the office. The memo referenced people but lacked specific names, causing confusion. Upon returning to the office, the speaker and colleagues were met with confusion and heartbreak. Two hours later, termination letters began to arrive. Ultimately, 15 assistant US attorneys were fired. The speaker's termination letter cited actions and prosecutions related to the events at or near the US Capitol on 01/06/2021. It referenced an executive order characterizing the work as a grave national injustice and stated that the speaker's hiring hindered the acting US attorney's ability to implement President Trump's agenda. The speaker believes the US attorneys represent the United States, not the president. The speaker believes that firing 15 qualified attorneys created a problem.

I was fired for supporting Trump after defending a man shot at a rally. My boss, a Mexican American, insulted the victim and I stood up for him. He accused me of being what's wrong with the country and kicked me out. Now I'm unsure about my future.

USAID was the great front for sixty years for this whole network, and USAID formally shut down on July 1. It's been absorbed by the F branch of the State Department, the foreign assistance branch of the State Department. There have been 14,000 people who are laid off at USAID and it's being administered by a much smaller crew of people. Everything from USAID employee to USAID employee or USAID employee to NGO or contractor has to be made public. The present blocking point, as I understand it, is that the State Department does not presently even have access to the USAID files because of the IT blockages that is, USAID people, I believe, simply didn't turn over the encryption or the passwords.

It's been two weeks since everything changed. I lost my job last night – a devastating blow after seven years as a shift lead on a project studying the wheels on the bus. Elon Musk's actions with USAID have had real consequences for me and my family. I'm unemployed, and I don't know what to tell my kids. This isn't a joke; it's affecting real people. The worst part? We may never know if the wheels on the bus go round and round, and nobody seems to care. This situation is incredibly serious and deeply upsetting.

Hi, I'm Oleg Shmurra, and this is Dr. Ben Andrew, Cody Anderson, Katie Sandlin, Andrew Lennox, Nick Hand, Riley Ratcliffe, and Jonathan Cannons. I oversaw cybersecurity for VA.gov. I was fired last week along with others at USDS. Without us, veterans' private data is at risk. I was a custodial worker at Yosemite, and a NEPA coordinator for the Forest Service. I coordinated environmental review for crucial projects. I worked in genomics education at NIH, educating about genomics to improve patient care. I was a technologist at the CFPB, ensuring payment apps were safe and financial data protected. I monitored water quality at a reservoir. As an admin officer at the VA, I ensured veterans received proper care and medication. We joined public service to make an impact, help others, and serve our country. I'd take my job back to protect veterans. We're not deep state; we're here to help. This is the face of federal agencies.

FBI agents and analysts, who handle investigations and execute warrants, are facing unprecedented challenges due to political pressures. These dedicated professionals, who typically commit to long careers, are now worried about potential job loss and its repercussions on their families and futures. Many are concerned about losing their reputations, pensions, and health insurance if they are terminated. The current atmosphere within the FBI is one of fear and uncertainty, as employees feel targeted for simply doing their jobs on significant national security cases. This situation is seen as disgraceful and unjust, reflecting a troubling trend of political retribution affecting those who serve in the agency.

For context, USAID has been around for more than sixty years with bipartisan support, earmarks in every budget, and a workforce of about 10 to 14,000 staff, plus roughly $40,000,000,000 in procurement each year. We read Project Twenty Twenty Five and felt somewhat prepared for this administration in some ways, but not in others. Ahead of the inauguration, the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), which works in countries transitioning from authoritarian or wartime to more peaceful and structured governments, was a major player and had organized during the previous administration to respond to threats to U.S. democracy. Also notable to our group, including our gender and sexual minorities employee resource group, is that we had moved our group away from the USAID main systems into Signal chats to protect the community there. January 20, the inauguration, brought one of 200 executive orders to stop foreign assistance, creating a ninety-day pause on all funding. In addition, there were executive orders to stop DEI programming, which affected a large number of our awards immediately. In that first week, we experienced threatening emails across staff, a takeover of the DEIA, truth@opm.gov email address, which was unusual in its centralization to all government staff, and many staff under a particular hiring mechanism were immediately put on furlough or laid off. I am part of that hiring mechanism. Within that initial period, over the weekend, our senior staff, including our general counsel, were put on administrative leave. In response, we moved quickly to establish the USAID stop work order website and a Signal group, organized by a longtime implementing partner and strategic communications specialists. They moved immediately to begin gathering people, creating community, and collecting information. This is also when some of the first lawsuits began to be discussed. In the second weekend, additional Signal groups were stood up. USAID is an agency of about 10 to 14,000 people within the United States, and we have about 50,000 people who are hired into the ecosystem of awards and grants contracted by USAID. This community began gathering in Signal, especially as disinformation about USAID emerged from X (Elon Musk’s platform) and escalated attacks. In that second week after the administration, almost all USAID staff were put on administrative leave, including our ethics lawyers, our HR, and our security. DOES took over, and our buildings were closed. By February 5, we had our first large-scale protest organized, with several congressional leaders standing up with us along with agency leadership. Many developments followed, and I will discuss those next.

This past week has been incredibly difficult, both personally and professionally. Since the new administration began, there's been a climate of fear and uncertainty, impacting my colleagues and me. We've felt unsafe, unsure of who to trust, and worried about the security of our communications. This has created a widespread sense of insecurity. My anonymity is crucial because my personal information – including my Social Security number and contact details – has been compromised. I fear that Doge members, including Elon Musk, have access to this sensitive data. I'm concerned about potential targeting. The current methods being used are dangerous, illegal, and cruel. They don't align with the President's mandate and are being carried out by a rogue few. The actions of a billionaire unilaterally removing aid to the world's poorest is horrifying. I'm angry, sad, and devastated for my colleagues, family, and the American people.

This past week has been incredibly difficult, both personally and professionally. Since the new administration began, a climate of fear has permeated my workplace. We're unsure who to trust, and the constant uncertainty is terrifying. My information, including personal details and contacts, has been compromised. I'm worried about my family's safety, and that's why I'm remaining anonymous. The methods used to achieve supposed efficiency are dangerous, illegal, and cruel. They haven't been approved by the President or Secretary Rubio, and they're the actions of a rogue few. Being vilified by a billionaire who's cutting aid to the world's poorest is horrifying. I'm angry, sad, and devastated for my colleagues, my family, and the American people.

People are really scared because overnight, many lost their next paycheck and ability to pay for childcare and medical bills. Christina Drey and Adam Dubard were fired this month amidst the chaotic shutdown of foreign aid distributed by USAID. Over 8,000 USAID employees were sent home, not based on competency but on loyalty tests. These are people with decades of public service across administrations, and they had to leave the building immediately. As far as I know, they received an email, and if they didn't leave, they were escorted out. There was no process or explanation given to them.

I received an email from the Department of Health and Human Services stating that I was being terminated during my probationary period. They said my skills didn't fit the agency's needs and that my performance wasn't adequate. This really hurt because I worked hard to get this job, especially after moving from out of state. It's upsetting to think some people are celebrating this, assuming we're lazy and living off the government. My coworkers and I cared about our jobs and wanted to help people. It's painful to have something you care about taken away unfairly. I'm worried about what I'm going to do now. For those also dealing with this, know that you're not trash. What you did mattered, and you won't be forgotten by those you worked with.

People are losing security clearances and government contracts, but this is not enough. Dr. Fauci is responsible for the death of millions, and merely losing his job is insufficient. USAID is funding a radical Marxist agenda globally, and business loans are being given to children. Social Security and Medicare payments are being sent overseas and to dead people, including 50-year-olds. No one has been held accountable for any of this.

After three weeks of training, the speaker saw a litigation hold on their phone with a memo giving Mr. Martin permission to fire probationary employees from the capital c section. The memo referenced people but didn't have a list of names. The speaker headed back to the office and was met by colleagues who shared their confusion. Two hours later, letters terminating them started rolling in. At the end of the night, 15 assistant U. S. Attorneys had been fired. The termination letter stated the decision was based on actions and the prosecution of persons relating to the events that occurred at or near The U. S. Capitol on 01/06/2021. An executive order characterized that work as having involved a grave national injustice. The speaker's hiring hindered the ability of the acting US attorney Martin to staff his office in furtherance of his obligation to faithfully implement the agenda that the American people elected president Trump to SCU. The termination letter made it clear that mister Martin does not understand the role of a prosecutor. Firing 15 qualified attorneys created an immediate deficit in the office to appropriately prosecute cases.

The discussion centers on the claim that the Trump administration has been “draining the Washington DC swamp” by using a Biden-era policy, and that Trump actually tricked Biden into enacting it. The speakers present several linked points. - A report is cited: federal government employment fell by 9,000 jobs in April, and is down about 345,000 jobs since Trump took office. The speakers show a graph suggesting Trump’s entrance coincides with a “free fall,” and claim these are the lowest federal employment numbers in the country since 1966. - They attribute this purge of federal workers to a Biden-era policy that, according to their narrative, the Biden administration inadvertently made it easier for Trump to fire executive-branch employees. This claim is tied to coverage from the Heritage Foundation. - Speaker 1 recounts a sequence of events involving the firing of federal employees after Biden took office. They describe receiving an email in Biden’s early months stating that recipients must resign by a certain time or be fired, implying a policy or practice of compelled resignations. - They recount American First Legal’s attempt to sue the Biden administration, seeking plaintiffs to challenge the right to fire federal employees. They describe a process in which they hoped to lose in court so that Biden’s position would proceed to higher courts, claiming they ultimately lost at both the district court and the appeals level, with Trump then prevailing in the broader effort. - The narrative continues with the speaker mentioning contacting people and referencing it as “my servant v Biden,” followed by a call from the Washington Post about the Kennedy Center board being fired. The speaker jokes about being recognized for Dancing with the Stars rather than ballet, and the reporter’s line of inquiry is said to pivot to a statement issued by the Kennedy Center board. - The overall arc emphasized is that a Biden-era policy is claimed to have enabled broad layoffs in the executive branch, that this policy was “codified” or reinforced by actions in Biden’s early tenure, and that legal challenges by conservative groups to resist or contest these moves were unsuccessful, leading to what the speakers present as Trump succeeding in reducing federal employment and purging federal workers. The Kennedy Center firing is cited as part of the broader narrative of fired or compelled resignations as part of perceived administrative shakeups.

The FBI is being accused of corruption and targeting politicians, parents, and ordinary citizens. Whistleblowers have bravely come forward, facing retaliation and being blocked from working both inside and outside the FBI. This is a troubling time for the American people.

I lost my job last night, just two weeks after the recent changes initiated by Elon Musk regarding USAID. I've been a shift lead on a project for seven years, and now I'm unemployed. This situation has serious consequences for real people like me. I’m left wondering how to explain this to my family and kids. The impact of these decisions is not just theoretical; it affects lives. What if we never find out if the wheels on the bus go round and round? Does anyone care about the real implications of these changes?

FBI agents and analysts, who are essential to investigations and operations, are facing unprecedented threats to their jobs due to political pressures. These professionals, committed to their work for many years, are now worried about their livelihoods and futures. If they lose their positions, it could end their careers, jeopardizing their reputations, pensions, and health insurance. The current atmosphere within the FBI is one of fear and uncertainty, as many employees are concerned about how they will support their families. This situation, driven by political gamesmanship, is seen as disgraceful and unlawful, leaving dedicated agents feeling targeted for simply doing their jobs.

Elon Musk has targeted the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), removing two top leaders who resisted him. Employees were abruptly told not to come to the office and many were locked out of their accounts. Similar actions are occurring in the Treasury Department, where Musk and his associates now have access to sensitive federal payment systems and personal information of federal employees. There's been a lack of a clear and united response from leading Democrats to these developments, with some voices emerging during confirmation hearings but overall responses being slow and often vague. It's unclear what actions are being taken to counter this takeover.

After three weeks of training, the speaker received a litigation hold and a memo granting permission to fire probationary employees from the capital c section who had been moved within the office. The speaker was unsure if they were on the list. Upon returning to the office, colleagues shared their confusion. Two hours later, termination letters arrived, dismissing 15 assistant U.S. Attorneys. The speaker's letter cited their actions in prosecuting individuals involved in the events at or near the U.S. Capitol on 01/06/2021. It referenced an executive order from 01/20/2025 characterizing that work as a grave national injustice. The letter stated that the speaker's hiring hindered the acting U.S. attorney's ability to implement President Trump's agenda. The speaker believes Mr. Martin doesn't understand that U.S. attorneys represent the United States, not the president, and that firing 15 attorneys created a deficit in the office's ability to prosecute cases.

At Northeast Utilities, fired workers staged a quiet protest by placing American flags in their cubicles. As they were let go, the flags were removed, and one worker took a final picture of the empty space. This situation reflects the experiences of many across the country. Janet Napolitano, former head of Homeland Security and now president of the University of California, faced backlash for eliminating 80 IT jobs at the medical center. She publicly stated that the university mishandled the H-1B process and instructed the outsourcing company to stop using H-1B workers. However, this came too late for workers like Kurt Ho and Robert Harrison, who recently packed up their belongings on their last day at the medical center, expressing that others will soon feel the same hardships they faced.

FBI agents and analysts, who handle investigations and surveillance, are not influenced by political changes and are dedicated to their work. Most intend to stay for their entire careers, often facing potential termination or retribution for doing their jobs on significant national security cases. This situation has created a sense of fear and uncertainty among them, as losing their jobs would jeopardize their reputations, financial stability, pensions, and health insurance. The current environment within the FBI is chaotic, with employees worried about their futures due to political maneuvering. It is unjust and unacceptable for them to endure such treatment.

A speaker addresses Senator Klobuchar, saying they won't discuss personnel decisions, but highlighting a personnel issue. The speaker states that all of their agents and all of their lawyers are working. They claim that their agents are on the street working without a paycheck, attributing this to the shutdown caused by the other party. The speaker asserts, "My agents are on the street working without a paycheck because your party voted to shut down the federal government." This emphasizes perceived consequences of the government shutdown on federal operations and compensation. The message conveys frustration that personnel are continuing to work without pay due to political actions.