“Dedicated public servants who had given years of their lives to this country were suddenly faced with uncertainty, fear, and pressure.”
Dear America
I never imagined that after dedicating my life to public service and fair housing, I would one day feel pushed out of the very work I fought so hard to do.
I served at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development within the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, specifically in the Policy, Legislation, and Initiatives Division. I was not handed that opportunity through preference or privilege. I earned it through years of hard work, education, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief that government can and should improve people's lives.
My work focused on policies and legislative analysis that directly impacted communities across this country — ensuring housing opportunities were fair, equitable, and accessible for all Americans. I worked on issues tied to civil rights, housing stability, community development, and protections for vulnerable populations. It was more than a job to me; it was a calling.
I spent my career believing in service. I believed that if I worked hard enough, stayed committed enough, and led with integrity, I could help create systems that treated people with dignity and fairness. Every long night, every difficult assignment, every challenge was worth it because I knew the work mattered.
Then came a new administration and sweeping cuts to the federal workforce. The environment shifted quickly. Dedicated public servants who had given years of their lives to this country were suddenly faced with uncertainty, fear, and pressure. Many of us were encouraged to leave through the Deferred Resignation Program, and what had once felt like a mission-driven workplace became emotionally exhausting and deeply unsettling.
For me, it was heartbreaking. Not because I lacked qualifications or commitment — but because I cared so deeply about the work and the people it served. After spending my life working toward a seat at that table, I found myself having to make impossible decisions about stability, purpose, and the future of my career.
—A civil servant
