Wake me up from this nightmare

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so, so sorry OP. It is indeed a nightmare (fellow contractor here). And what makes it worse is that they are intentionally doing this to inflict pain. This is not a situation (like in some private company layoffs) where they simply have to make business decisions.

Everyone keeps saying this on here. Yes there are some quotes with officials/politicians saying they want to inflict pain. But the main point is to reduce the size of the government and save money.

You are brainwashed. You’ve probably heard it a million times because it’s TRUE.

These people do not have your interests at heart. You are just as disposable as the federal workforce. They do NOT CARE.

Wake up my love!

[Anonymous]

We are one fed and another in a field that will be affected. Our oldest is a senior and did really well with applications and merit, but it’s not enough to go to any of the distant states. They will have to stay in state. I don’t mind so much for myself and I’d take whatever job as needed, but this is going to crush the upcoming generation.

[Anonymous]

I feel the same, OP. We are not Feds, but my spouse is a contractor currently on LWOP. I work part time for the local school system and I am having anxiety and panic attacks since Orange Head took office. The only saving grace is we are all on my insurance and not in jeopardy of losing that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep hoping too I’ll wake up from this nightmare. A complete destruction of our standing in the world and our economy and zero respect for the constitution. They’re messing with the systems that hold our country together. I can feel the buzzing/unrest in the air.

We all lost this election. Some people just don’t know it yet.

You stated my thoughts exactly. I feel like I'm screaming underwater and no one can hear me. My parents don't seem to know or care. My MIL is the same; actually, she is worse. She had the utter lack of empathy and temerity to tell my USAID husband that she knows there's corruption and waste at USAID. Unfortunately for her, we are now unable to help move her out here as my husband had planned.

Is there not?

Not going to debate that with you - only send fervent hopes that should you ever be in a bad place in life, someone shows you empathy and kindness, especially your mother.

[Anonymous]

it's 'peace' of mind.
we are currently double unemployed also (private sector but laid off late last year). It sucks but you will find something new. This administration is the worst in the history of this country so now people are finding out just how awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so, so sorry OP. It is indeed a nightmare (fellow contractor here). And what makes it worse is that they are intentionally doing this to inflict pain. This is not a situation (like in some private company layoffs) where they simply have to make business decisions.

Everyone keeps saying this on here. Yes there are some quotes with officials/politicians saying they want to inflict pain. But the main point is to reduce the size of the government and save money.

Salaries and benefits of all federal workers total 5% of the total federal budget.

People keep writing this as if it’s clever. It’s not just the workforce. It’s all the programs and spending associated with them that they’ll also determine is unneeded. To focus solely on employee cost in all this is disingenuous. If you are going to disagree, at least get correct what they plan to eliminate.

Then cut the programs through the legally-allowed process: the budget. It makes no sense to indiscriminately drive people away from federal employment regardless of whether or not they have critical skills in areas Congress wants to fund.

Stop acting like that too would have been acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so, so sorry OP. It is indeed a nightmare (fellow contractor here). And what makes it worse is that they are intentionally doing this to inflict pain. This is not a situation (like in some private company layoffs) where they simply have to make business decisions.

Everyone keeps saying this on here. Yes there are some quotes with officials/politicians saying they want to inflict pain. But the main point is to reduce the size of the government and save money.

Salaries and benefits of all federal workers total 5% of the total federal budget.

People keep writing this as if it’s clever. It’s not just the workforce. It’s all the programs and spending associated with them that they’ll also determine is unneeded. To focus solely on employee cost in all this is disingenuous. If you are going to disagree, at least get correct what they plan to eliminate.

People keep saying it because people like you are so underinformed that we have to go back to basics for you to het a clue.

The spending on the programs is mandated by Congress via appropriations. Eliminating the federal work force saves zero of that. ZERO. Do you really think that laying off people eliminates the programs they were implementing?

If you’re going to disagree, at least get some idea of the rubbish you’re spouting.

Well, I guess we are about to find out. Sorry I didn’t bother to spell it all out for you. I have a lot of confidence the appropriations for some of those programs will never be spent when the workforce charged with implementing them and the unit within the agency disappears.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that we may be facing double unemployment. I'm a federal contractor and my spouse is a fed. At the end of 2024 we both received promotions and were doing well and happy in our careers. My company is crumbling around me with contracts being terminated and layoffs and all I can do is watch. We are in our 40s with two young kids and a mortgage. We are financially conservative and can live on one income comfortably without childcare, which has always given us piece of mind. However, we are now in what would usually seem like a remote possibility that both of us would be unemployed at the same time for a potentially extended period. I cannot focus on anything--my work, my kids. I'm depressed just thinking about how happy everyone was in December and now the future looks bleak and uncertain. My kids have no idea what is going on.

I really wish someone would shine a light on what is going on, because we can't be the only ones. DOGE has not even started with NIH, FDA, and SAMSHA and RIFs--Montgomery County is going to a disaster. I think the rest of the country doesn't care.

I hope they keep SAMHSA! Call public officials. If you have data on impacts of your work in different states, ask colleagues/peers in those states to call and email representatives with that data. Just do what you can. I hope federal judges block ar least some of these cuts.

I’m really sorry that you are in this position, and with two young kids. Apply for jobs, do your best to get through the day, and be kind to yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that we may be facing double unemployment. I'm a federal contractor and my spouse is a fed. At the end of 2024 we both received promotions and were doing well and happy in our careers. My company is crumbling around me with contracts being terminated and layoffs and all I can do is watch. We are in our 40s with two young kids and a mortgage. We are financially conservative and can live on one income comfortably without childcare, which has always given us piece of mind. However, we are now in what would usually seem like a remote possibility that both of us would be unemployed at the same time for a potentially extended period. I cannot focus on anything--my work, my kids. I'm depressed just thinking about how happy everyone was in December and now the future looks bleak and uncertain. My kids have no idea what is going on.

I really wish someone would shine a light on what is going on, because we can't be the only ones. DOGE has not even started with NIH, FDA, and SAMSHA and RIFs--Montgomery County is going to a disaster. I think the rest of the country doesn't care.

I hear you, but I’m a single parent, a federal employee at an agency that is being targeted, just diagnosed with cancer, and one missed paycheck away from not being able to make my mortgage payment. It’s not a competition, but be grateful for what you do have in this awful time.

[Anonymous]

I just found out today that our office will likely close in March. If funds get cut off, we may close sooner. If we can find more funding, we may survive longer, but there is so much uncertainty.
We can live on one salary, but it's heartbreaking because I love the work I do. I work for a private nonprofit that does a lot of good for very vulnerable, deserving people.
Yes, the cruelty is beyond belief. The people who are running our country are heartless and completely lacking in empathy. It is a tragedy.
As far as coping, OP, I think we all need to take a deep breath, take care of ourselves, and regroup. We will get our jobs back if we stay together and fight this corrupt administration in ways large and small. One thing you can do is call your representatives every single day and insist that they fight back, if you live outside of DC of course. People in Red states should call hourly. If our elected officials know their jobs are on the line, they will do something, and right now they are doing almost nothing to help their constituents survive this Musk-made disaster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so, so sorry OP. It is indeed a nightmare (fellow contractor here). And what makes it worse is that they are intentionally doing this to inflict pain. This is not a situation (like in some private company layoffs) where they simply have to make business decisions.

Everyone keeps saying this on here. Yes there are some quotes with officials/politicians saying they want to inflict pain. But the main point is to reduce the size of the government and save money.

ha! Ya drank the kool-aid!

they want to stuff taxpayer's money into the oligarchs' pockets.

Save money?! That's a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once the federal freeze on money is lifted (per federal judge) will some contracts start to be funded? I would think (hope) so.

No. Who is still employed to administer them? They put most people on admin leave and want to fire 75%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so, so sorry OP. It is indeed a nightmare (fellow contractor here). And what makes it worse is that they are intentionally doing this to inflict pain. This is not a situation (like in some private company layoffs) where they simply have to make business decisions.

Everyone keeps saying this on here. Yes there are some quotes with officials/politicians saying they want to inflict pain. But the main point is to reduce the size of the government and save money.

To save money so...more can go to Elon? He just magically found $7M from NASA for his SpaceX. How is that helping us?

Did the price of eggs decrease? Nope.
Have they deported the same number of people as Biden yet? Nope.

Instead, the Don Trump is talking about pennies and straws, which no one cares about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so, so sorry OP. It is indeed a nightmare (fellow contractor here). And what makes it worse is that they are intentionally doing this to inflict pain. This is not a situation (like in some private company layoffs) where they simply have to make business decisions.

Everyone keeps saying this on here. Yes there are some quotes with officials/politicians saying they want to inflict pain. But the main point is to reduce the size of the government and save money.

Yeah, nope. That's not what this is about at all. Because if that's what it was about they would have started with DoD, which accounts for half of the USG budget. As it stands, DoD has not been touched.

The places touched first are the ones that were investigating Elon (USAID) or that Elon had grudges against, like FAA.

He's not doing this to save money. lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that we may be facing double unemployment. I'm a federal contractor and my spouse is a fed. At the end of 2024 we both received promotions and were doing well and happy in our careers. My company is crumbling around me with contracts being terminated and layoffs and all I can do is watch. We are in our 40s with two young kids and a mortgage. We are financially conservative and can live on one income comfortably without childcare, which has always given us piece of mind. However, we are now in what would usually seem like a remote possibility that both of us would be unemployed at the same time for a potentially extended period. I cannot focus on anything--my work, my kids. I'm depressed just thinking about how happy everyone was in December and now the future looks bleak and uncertain. My kids have no idea what is going on.

I really wish someone would shine a light on what is going on, because we can't be the only ones. DOGE has not even started with NIH, FDA, and SAMSHA and RIFs--Montgomery County is going to a disaster. I think the rest of the country doesn't care.

I hear you, but I’m a single parent, a federal employee at an agency that is being targeted, just diagnosed with cancer, and one missed paycheck away from not being able to make my mortgage payment. It’s not a competition, but be grateful for what you do have in this awful time.

NP. Best of luck to you. I am so sorry about the diagnosis.