The former U.S. Forest Service worker says she now regrets voting for Trump
A federal employee who got fired by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency shared her experience with CNN about how she found out. To make things even more surprising, she had voted for Donald Trump.
The Department of Government Efficiency is really serious about cutting costs, and with Elon Musk leading a team that aims to reduce government spending by $2 trillion, it was clear that some people would lose their jobs.
President Donald Trump mentioned that he appreciates the work his ‘First Buddy’ and the DOGE are doing, but he wants them to be even more forceful. It looks like Musk took this seriously and sent out a mass email asking staff to explain what they have achieved.
Musk and Trump have been slashing jobs across the government (Andrew Harnik / Staff / Getty)
A federal judge has raised concerns about the legality of Musk’s email and found that firing thousands of probationary employees might be ‘unlawful.’ Despite this, many workers are still losing their jobs. One of them is Ryleigh Cooper, a former U.S. Forest Service employee, who is confused about why she was let go, especially since she voted for Trump.
According to CNN, Cooper was excited about the possibility of becoming a mother because Trump promised to make IVF free. Sadly, she didn’t realize that her vote would lead to her losing her job.
CNN’s Laura Coates interviewed Cooper about how she felt when she found out she was being fired. Cooper shared, “It was really tough. I was on the phone with my best friend Kelly, talking about her life, when I saw a text from our union rep.”
“He told me I was going to be fired the next day, and I said to Kelly, ‘I have to go, I’m getting fired tomorrow.’ It felt like my heart dropped.”
When Coates mentioned that many Americans want a more efficient government, which Trump is trying to provide, Cooper said that wasn’t why she voted for him.
Describing herself as a swing voter, Cooper explained that Trump’s promise about fertility treatment was the main reason she supported him: “I want to be a mom. Women who have faced that painful desire for something they might never have know how much it occupies your mind and how isolating it can be.”
Cooper shared that she feels regret about voting for Trump, admitting she has had a lot of mixed feelings about that decision. She mentioned that it’s easy to get stuck in one way of thinking when there aren’t many choices available. She also realized that her vote might have taken opportunities away from other groups, which really bothers her.
Since she spoke out about her vote and her firing, Cooper has received a lot of negative messages. Some people have even said they hope she never has kids and that she got what she deserved.
Despite the harsh comments, she has also found a lot of support, especially from women who have experienced IVF and infertility issues. Although she’s upset about her current situation, Cooper hopes to bring attention to the struggles women face with infertility in the U.S. Unfortunately, Trump’s executive order from February 18, which was supposed to help with IVF costs, only makes treatment cheaper but doesn’t make it free.
Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Staff / Getty