MCPS Families Impacted by Trump Administration Layoffs

Written by JRC reporters Andrew Dai and Daniel Li

In the two months since newly-elected President Donald Trump’s inauguration, his administration has introduced the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and implemented significant changes to the federal workforce. DOGE has publicly stated that its goals are to cut $2 trillion from the $6.1 trillion federal budget and reduce the number of federal employees by 75% to streamline government operations and reduce unnecessary expenditures. However, in practice, DOGE’s actions have led to the firing of tens of thousands of federal employees working in positions or departments deemed ‘non-essential’, such as the US Agency for International Development, the world’s largest foreign aid agency, the Department of Education, and even research from the National Institutes of Health.

For people like Roman Stemp, a sophomore at Montgomery Blair High School, the consequences of these layoffs are deep and far-reaching. To understand the impact of DOGE and the federal government on Montgomery County residents, many of whom are employed by the federal government, JRC reporters interviewed several affected individuals.

Stemp’s parents work at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) respectively. He states that, while neither have personally been fired or laid off from their jobs, the recent policy changes have led to an increased workload and family struggles. “My dad has swapped positions in his job, to a more important and busy project, to make sure he doesn’t lose his job,” Stemp says, sharing concerns about job security. Meanwhile, Stemp’s mother is in a similar situation. Both parents’ workloads have increased significantly due to the Trump administration’s ‘fork in the road’ deal, which has led to a wave of senior retirements, forcing many longtime employees to consider leaving their jobs early. Additionally, probationary government workers with less than one year of employment have been fired indiscriminately, leading to further strain on the remaining employees.

One of the most disruptive mandates has been the requirement for federal employees to return to the office full-time, five days a week, ending remote-work arrangements. For Stemp’s parents, this means a daily multi-hour commute, increased transportation costs, and less time with family. “Sometimes I’ll get home from school, make dinner, do my homework, and then go to bed, without ever seeing [my dad]... It feels like he’s being pulled out of my life,” Stemp says. This return to in-person work has also affected opportunities such as extracurriculars or after-school clubs. With his parents preoccupied, Stemp has found that he lacks reliable transportation to and from school, making a frustratingly distant bus route his only option.

Beyond family challenges, federal layoffs and the restructuring of various agencies by DOGE have marred several workforce opportunities, such as those offered to high school students. Many federal internships, including those Stemp applied to for career-building experience, were canceled as a result. “I’ve learned that I need a backup plan…[these career paths] are not as secure as I thought it would be,” Stemp remarks. Fellow student David Wang shares a similar opinion, stating “I used to not care about politics, but…you never stray too far from it.” These statements reflect a growing concern among many students who believed that the government layoffs would not have such far-reaching consequences.

While aiming to reduce waste in government spending and increase bureaucracy efficiency are admirable goals, it is important to realize that pursuing them has consequences outside their original scope. These federal job cuts and restrictive policies are negatively affecting real people with real lives and struggles, and it would serve the Trump administration and DOGE well to keep that in mind for future decisions.

This article was provided by Chinese American Parents Association Junior Reporter Club (CAPA JRC) with members who interviewed, audio recorded, wrote, translated, and video recorded. CAPA JRC has 25 Montgomery County middle to high school students. They have created a bilingual platform delivering news and serving the community.

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