Veteran FEMA worker fired amidst federal workforce reductions

FAIRFAX, Va. — A Northern Virginia couple is facing uncertainty after the husband, a 13-year disabled military veteran and information technology technician at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), was terminated on February 16 as part of a government-wide workforce reduction under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The couple, who requested anonymity due to concerns over retaliation and potential legal action, received the termination notice via email from Acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton. The email stated, “The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.”

Despite the email’s assertion, the employee contends that he had recently been upgraded to a “career conditional” status, which signifies a positive evaluation of his performance. He stated, “I received excellent performance reviews that showed I was exceeding expectations. My evaluations indicated that I was a leader and a valuable part of the team.”

FEMA’s employee rankings showed that his performance was just below the highest rating of “Achieved Excellence.” Amid layoffs affecting thousands in the federal sector, he and his family are contemplating an appeal before the Merit Systems Protection Board.

“I thought my military service and my performance at FEMA would protect me from such drastic cuts,” he said. “I voted for Donald Trump, but I didn’t expect this impact on my career.”

His wife added, “We believed that his years of service in the Navy and Air Force Reserves would offer him more job security. We’re just trying to navigate the uncertainty of our future.”

The family has reached out to their local representatives in Congress and the American Federation of Government Employees union for assistance, but they reported a lack of guidance so far.

In light of the layoffs, the couple emphasizes the importance of federal workers ensuring their personal employment records are accurate and up-to-date, as well as keeping copies of any evaluations and accolades. “It’s crucial for employees to protect their records,” he advised.

The firings come amid a larger trend of job cuts across federal agencies as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce drastically. Many involved in the layoffs are newly appointed employees who lack civil service protections.

The couple stands astonished by the severity of the actions taken, feeling that their professional contributions have been overlooked during this significant downsizing. As they consider what steps to take next, they express hope that their story might bring attention to the issues faced by federal employees impacted by these reductions.