Carolyn Corrigan, a single mother of two, recently found herself in a difficult situation after losing her job as a federal worker. Due to the termination of her employment, she has been forced to apply for unemployment benefits, food stamps, and Medicaid to support herself and her children.
Corrigan expressed her distress over the sudden loss of her only source of income, stating, 'I have no income and I’m a single mom with two kids.' She emphasized the dedication of federal employees to serving the American people, describing the impact of losing her job as 'devastating.'
Despite the Trump administration's assertion that the workforce overhaul is targeting low-performing employees in non-critical roles or recent hires on probationary status, Corrigan disputed the reason given for her termination. She claimed that the explanation of 'bad performance' was unfounded, as she had never received negative feedback or been placed on a performance improvement plan during her more than 10 years of government service.
Corrigan's case is not an isolated incident, as interviews with other laid-off federal workers and obtained documents reveal a pattern of arbitrary firing decisions. Contrary to the administration's claims, individuals who had recently been promoted or received positive performance evaluations were among those terminated.
The impact of these workforce changes extends beyond the individuals directly affected, as Corrigan highlighted the essential role that federal employees play in ensuring the government functions effectively. She emphasized, 'If we didn’t work, the American public would see that because the government wouldn’t be moving.'
As the debate over the administration's approach to federal workforce management continues, stories like Corrigan's shed light on the personal and professional challenges faced by those caught in the midst of these changes.
