When 24-year-old Ryleigh Cooper cast her vote for Donald Trump in the presidential election, she did so with one hope in mind: access to free in vitro fertilization. For Cooper, who had been told by doctors that she may not be able to conceive naturally, the promise of IVF was personal and powerful.
“Going into the voting booth, the main thing on my mind was … I want to be a mom,” Cooper told CNN’s Laura Coates.
But months after making that choice, Cooper found herself unemployed, laid off from her job with the U.S. Forest Service amid a wave of federal workforce reductions initiated by the Trump administration. Her situation has left her reflecting on her vote and its consequences.
“When you’re voting on something that affects you so personally, it’s really easy to get tunnel vision,” she said. “I made a decision that, looking back, I am not proud of.”
Cooper’s layoff came in February after she received a message from her union representative notifying her of her termination.
“I had gotten a text from our union rep, and he told me that I was going to be fired the next day,” she recalled. “My heart just sank.”
Her termination was part of a broader move by the Trump administration to freeze hiring at federal agencies and cut thousands of probationary employees from departments like the Forest Service. While some workers in timber management roles were rehired, Cooper was not among them.
She’s not alone in experiencing this kind of regret. Another former federal worker, who had been employed at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), also spoke with CNN. Like Cooper, this worker had been a recent hire and was let go just three weeks into her job. Her probationary status made it easier for the administration to remove her without recourse.
She said she had voted for Trump in hopes that he would curb inflation. “If I’d known that, I would never have voted for him,” she said of the layoffs.
Both women are part of a growing group of federal employees who now face the financial and emotional strain of unexpected job loss. In addition to processing their professional setbacks, they’re grappling with a sense of disillusionment over the political choices they made.
In situations like these, employment experts caution that making smart moves immediately after a layoff can make a big difference in recovery. There are several common missteps that newly unemployed individuals should avoid.
First, it’s critical to understand your rights. Many federal workers belong to unions and may have protections against unjust termination. Without knowing these rights, individuals might miss out on opportunities to challenge their dismissal or secure unemployment benefits.
Another key step is adjusting spending habits. When income stops, continuing to live on a pre-layoff budget can quickly deplete savings. Experts advise switching to a bare-bones budget and recalculating your net worth to set more realistic financial limits.
Job seekers should also update their resumes and LinkedIn profiles promptly. Highlighting the skills and accomplishments from your most recent role can improve your chances of landing another position quickly.
Maintaining professional connections is equally important. Asking for contact information or letters of recommendation from former supervisors can help with future job applications. Staying in touch with past colleagues may also open doors to new opportunities.
Lastly, workers should be careful with their retirement plans. Cashing out old accounts can lead to penalties and long-term financial harm. Instead, transferring funds into an IRA ensures that retirement savings continue to grow. A study from Capitalize analyzed by the ASPPA found that up to $1.65 trillion in retirement funds have been forgotten at previous jobs.
As federal job cuts continue and the competition for new roles intensifies, making informed financial decisions and taking proactive steps will be essential for workers navigating these uncertain times. For those like Cooper, the personal cost of political choices is becoming clearer and far more complicated than they ever expected.
Source: MSN
