Veteran HR Specialist Speaks Out After Sudden Job Loss

NEW ORLEANS, La. — Kira Carrigan, a 36-year-old Marine veteran, experienced an abrupt termination from her position as an HR specialist at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), just two months after starting her promising federal career. Her story sheds light on the uncertainties faced by military spouses in the workforce amidst government job cuts.

In a conversation with Business Insider, Carrigan reflected on her journey, which began when she applied for government positions in January 2024 after years of focusing on her family. “I was ready to re-enter the workforce with all my kids finally in school,” she said. Her excitement peaked when she received an official offer from OPM in October, beginning her role remotely on December 16.

The transition, however, was short-lived. On February 12, she and other early-career employees received an unexpected invitation to an all-hands meeting, where OPM’s acting director, Charles Ezell, announced their dismissals with little notice. “There were technical errors during the call, and anxiety grew among us. He didn’t even introduce himself before firing us,” Carrigan recalled.

She received a termination letter citing poor performance, an assertion she considers unjust given her limited time in the position and lack of a performance review. “It’s devastating to be labeled as a poor performer when I never even had the chance to prove myself,” Carrigan expressed. “It’s like I’m in this grief period, unable to find closure from an experience I had worked so hard for.”

Before her employment at OPM, Carrigan had dedicated years to being a military spouse, frequently relocating due to her husband’s deployments. They have moved between California, Virginia, and North Carolina, now residing in New Orleans. Their lives have been marked by the challenges of military service, including long periods apart and continuous adjustments to new environments.

With her husband’s retirement on the horizon in 2026, Carrigan believed her job at OPM would provide financial stability. Instead, she now faces uncertainty. “I’m worried about our financial future as we prepare to move to California in just two months,” she said. “I won’t be able to look for new work until after my kids settle into their new schools in the fall.”

The implications of the recent job cuts extend beyond personal loss; they represent broader issues within the federal workforce. President Donald Trump acknowledged the unpopularity of job cuts at OPM, asserting the need for such measures to safeguard the economy. However, Carrigan’s experience reveals the personal costs of these policies for those who serve the nation.

On a poignant note, Carrigan reflected on her daughter’s tenth birthday, a day that should encompass joy and celebration, now intertwined with the weight of her professional loss. “I wish today could just be a day of joy, not a reminder of how drastically my life has changed in just a few months,” she said.

In the wake of her unexpected termination, Carrigan feels a growing disconnection between the perceived respect for military families and the reality they face. “We always assumed there was appreciation for our sacrifices, but now it feels disingenuous,” she concluded. As she navigates her uncertain future, Carrigan hopes her story may resonate with others facing similar challenges.