As a part of the Trump administration’s mass government layoffs, probationary staff at two US Department of Agriculture (USDA) research agencies were fired on Valentine’s Day, Reuters reported.
The department is responsible for ensuring US food production is safe, supporting farmers and infrastructure in rural areas, sustainability efforts that conserve land, and more. According to their site, “We keep America’s farmers and ranchers in business and ensure the nation’s meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled.”
Well, the layoffs do not appear to follow party lines, as someone claiming to be of the workers laid off penned an open message to President Donald Trump in hopes of getting their job back.
The message circulated widely on X (formerly known as Twitter), collectively gaining over 3 million views.
Here’s what it says: “Donald J. Trump Hellor Sir. I am one of the probationary employees terminated by the Doge at 9:00pm last night; February 14. I voted for you, Sir, three times, and I still support you,” the post reads.
“I was encouraged by the DOGE to see they were getting rid of wasteful government spending; I support that too.”
“My termination letter said I was being let go for performance reasons. I know that’s not true; I am an excellent employee. I’ve been with the Federal government for almost 16 years. Sixteen years in June,” it continues.
“I had started my career with USDA, transferred to DHS, and recently came back to USDA because it’s such a great Agency to work for. Surely that must count for something in your eyes. I’m loyal and I firmly believe that the work I do as a USDA APHIS PPQ employee is vital and important. My boss, his boss, the managers in neighboring states, all agree I’m doing an excellent job and that I’m a great asset to the team.”
“I’m the only [redacted] in the State of Kentucky and my work here is valued and honorable. Each time I voted for you, it was because I knew you’d make things right and you’d fix the wrongs. I’m counting on you now to make this right too.”
In response to the post, little sympathy was found from MAGA-supporting commenters. One person wrote, “This is business ppl. You don’t sacrifice a country with bankruptcy to let ppl keep a job. They are very employable. Does it suck. Yes but it is a necessary evil.”
Others questioned what the writer, who says they fully support Trump and the layoffs, expected. “Do these people think they are going to get an exception because they are Trumpers?” someone asked.
This rings especially true for those who remember Trump’s campaign promise to cut government spending. “I hear you,” this person wrote, “but all along in his campaign he proclaimed all he was going to do, you believed him... so here you are, you voted for it.”
