Former USAID Foreign Service Officer, Global Health & U.S. Air Force Veteran

May 2025

“People in the countries USAID serves aren’t being supported anymore. Contractors with places like Chemonics, Save the Children, universities and research labs, farmers, and people in the supply chain for HIV drugs are all affected.

All of the people who worked for USAID are in a state of utter shock and hopelessness. I can’t sleep at night. I’m not getting exercise. I feel like shit — physically. This has been extremely traumatic. I’m not going to have a pot to piss in, and I’m turning 55.

My sons and I cling to each other. They’re on free lunch at school. Right now, in my cabinet, I have gift certificates for Harris Teeter, pasta, and dry oatmeal. We don’t have anything. I’m just patching together a life, and we’re not thriving. We’re dragging; we’re depressed; we’re scared. I believed this was stable work — service to my country that would let my sons see the world.”