Former USAID Worker Shares Experience After Job Elimination by Trump Administration

Impact of Administration Changes on USAID

• 🎯 The Trump administration's mission to slash the federal workforce led to job cuts across many agencies, with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) being significantly impacted.
• 📉 USAID, responsible for international aid, education funding, and poverty reduction overseas, saw 90% of foreign aid contracts eliminated and approximately $60 billion in funding cut.
• 🚫 Nearly all employees at USAID were terminated as part of these changes.

Personal Experience of Job Loss

• 💡 Nicole Diccastro, a former USAID program officer, described the experience as shocking and intense, with no one anticipating the scale of the layoffs.
• 🏢 Her role involved managing grants for data and information systems within the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, focusing on identifying needs during humanitarian emergencies.
• 📧 The termination notice was received via a document in her inbox after business hours, signaling the end of her contract.

Importance of International Aid

• 🌍 Diccastro emphasized that US aid contributes to making the world a better place by leveraging America's influence and resources.
• 💖 Her background in public health fueled a desire for mission-driven work aimed at helping those in need.

Sharing the Experience Online

• 🗣️ Feeling isolated, Diccastro turned to social media to document her experience, which resonated with many others facing similar situations.
• 🤝 This online sharing has been cathartic, fostering connections with people who have shared their own personal stories and experiences with job cuts from various agencies.

Navigating the Job Market and Future Career

• 🏋️ Currently, Diccastro is networking and working as a personal trainer in DC, which helps maintain her well-being.
• ✨ The experience has clarified her career priorities and opened conversations about new directions, with the outcome still unfolding.