NEW YORK (AP) — Scramble to replace their health insurance and find new jobs, some federal workers who have laid off have encountered another unexpected unpleasant thing: relatives cheer them.
As Americans absorb the reality of government cost-cutting measures, the country's painful tribal politics is spreading into text chains, social media posts and intense conversations. People expect sympathy, and some axe workers are finding family and friends, who are unwaveringly supporting what they believe is a swollen government waste.
“I am seen as a public enemy by the government and now it is bleeding,” said Luke Tobin, 24.
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Tobin's unemployment caused him to fill prescriptions before losing his health insurance and filling out dozens of applications, and could find any job he could find even in a fast food restaurant. However, some relatives responded to his firing because “the government must be made great again” was one of the worst parts of the entire ordeal.
“They can't use their ideology and politics with support from their families and loved ones,” Tobin said.
Kristin Jenn got a similar response after she learned that she was about to start the National Park Service Ranger job after billionaire Elon Musk’s government efficiency ministry hired a frozen National Park Service Ranger job. She believes the work may be eliminated completely.
Some members of some of her conservative family were disappointed with her on social media when she was disappointed with her job that might have lost her dreams. Others are giving her a silent treatment. Even if she was their victim, almost everyone liked the cut.
“My life is falling apart because I can’t work in the field of my choice,” said Jenn, 47, of Austin, Texas. “It will be hard to impress you except for the support of your family.”
The conflict has expanded to Jenn's mother, who is a former federal employee. When she criticized the government's actions, her mother simply said she supported the president.
“She was certainly convinced that the civil servant was a parasite, even if she was a civil servant, she was a parasite,” Jenn said.
Cutting federal work is Doge's job, which has been searching for institutions that are suspiciously wasted. Official shooting has not been released yet, but the list extends to thousands of countries and nearly every region.
As Doge continues to work, more layoffs are expected.
Eric Anderson, 48, of Chicago, is still tempted by the shock of his National Parks Service job when he met his aunt’s social media post to celebrate layoffs. Anderson said the point is: “Man, it’s great to see all this waste get eliminated.”
He was angry about it.
“Do you think I'm a waste?” he said, his voice rising as he recalls the post. “There are a lot of people who are hurting now and it’s not a waste.”
Erica Stubbs, who worked as a forestry technician at the US Forest Service in Boulder, Colorado, avoided social media after seeing hatred for federal workers.
Although most of her life have been supported since she was fired, some commented on the need to eliminate the need for a job like her.
“They told me it's just reducing waste, excess spending – your job doesn't matter,” said Stabs, 27. “I'm not saying it's the most important job in the world, but it's my job. It's important to me.”
Social media is spreading posts that layoffs and urge the threshold: “First fire!” In a heavily divided country, many people have seen cuts through their own political lens.
It turns out that one person’s destruction may be the joy of another man.
Riley Rackliffe, who worked as aquatic ecologist at Lake Mead National Recreation, Nevada, has allowed his shooting to lead so many friends and relatives to reach out to the help of his resume, call members of Congress, and even help with mortgages.
However, when mixed with it is sulfuric acid.
When his sacking made local news, the posting of the story led to a storm of comments that left him in trouble and advocated for layoffs. A man named Riley, 36, with a PhD, is a “glorious pool boy” that almost anyone can do.
Even some of Rackliffe’s friends show their comfort as Rackliffe and support the layoffs they argue are unnecessary government inflation.
“Hey, sorry, you lost your job, but I think we do need to reduce some of the waste in the government,” Rackliffe said a friend texted him and he supported Doge's goal. “He basically said, 'We have to do that. We have to tear off the band-aid.”
The stinging thing, Rackliffe said, is that people like him are lazy and worthless, collecting huge salaries for meaningless work.
“It's really sad for the president to suggest that you don't exist or that your job involves sitting at home doing anything and cashing in on salary,” he said. “I want to see him screening sting stings of stinging Naiad in 120 degrees, looking for parasitic snails. He's the guy who plays golf for a dime in the government. I don't even know how to play golf.”
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