For thousands of federal workers, careers built on public service have collapsed overnight. Elizabeth Aniskevich, a former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) attorney, describes being “tossed on the streets” after losing her job during Trump administration-led agency reductions. “We have no information about health insurance, unemployment forms, or how to pay bills,” she told ABC News.
Aniskevich is among 70 probationary CFPB employees terminated without access to critical benefits documentation. Probationary federal workers, often early-career hires, face heightened vulnerability during workforce reductions. Severed paychecks and unresolved insurance statuses now threaten mortgages, student loans, and financial security for many.
“Career-wise, this is a big detour. I planned to work long-term as a public servant,”
said Katie Butler, a Department of Education lawyer and adjunct professor dismissed despite a decade in federal roles. Butler highlights systemic flaws: agencies lack clear communication protocols, and appeals through the Merit Systems Protection Board offer little hope.
The human toll extends beyond finances:
- Understaffed agencies struggle to enforce civil rights protections
- Students with disabilities lose advocacy resources
- 75,000+ deferred resignations disrupt institutional knowledge
Victoria DeLano, an Alabama-based equal opportunity specialist, warns “dismantling agencies with a sledgehammer” risks decades of progress. Her terminated team handled discrimination complaints for vulnerable students, leaving families without legal recourse.
While the White House frames cuts as cost-saving measures, critics argue chaotic execution prioritizes speed over stability. With departments like the Office for Civil Rights operating at minimal capacity, the fallout from rapid government downsizing could linger for generations.