Speaking to CNN, the former U.S. Forest Service employee revealed that she regrets voting for Trump after being fired by Elon Musk’s DOGE.
Mass layoffs under Musk’s leadership
Elon Musk is leading an aggressive cost-cutting effort in the federal government. His Department of Government Efficiency aims to slash $2 trillion from government spending.
President Trump has praised Musk’s efforts. However, he has also urged the department to be “more aggressive.”
Musk responded with a mass email demanding federal employees justify their accomplishments.
A federal judge has questioned the legality of these mass firings.
Thousands of probationary employees have already lost their jobs. Among them is Ryleigh Cooper, a former U.S. Forest Service worker. She was stunned to lose her job despite voting for Trump.
Former U.S. Forest Service Employee regrets voting for Trump
A federal worker was fired by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The she is speaking out about her termination. Additionally, she also admits she now regrets voting for Donald Trump.
Additionally, Cooper, a swing voter, was drawn to Trump’s promise to make IVF free. She hoped this policy would help her start a family. Cooper told CNN that she had no idea her vote would cost her job.
She said: “It was really hard. I was on the phone with my best friend Kelly at the time. We were just discussing her life and how things were going, and I looked at my phone, and I had gotten a text from our union rep.”He told me that I was going to be fired the next day, and I told her, ‘I have to go, I’m getting fired tomorrow.’ And my heart just sank.”
However, Cooper faced backlash for speaking out
@cnn CNN’s Laura Coates speaks with Ryleigh Cooper, a federal worker who was recently fired as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to shrink government. #cnn #news #trump
Cooper has received mixed reactions since sharing her story. She has been flooded with hate mail, with some people saying she “got exactly what she deserved.” Others have cruelly wished she never has a child.
She said: “I also had to come to terms with the fact that I was likely going to be a part of, you know, taking chances away from other groups of people, and that’s never sat well with me.”
Cooper reveals that she has received a significant amount of hate mail for discussing both her decision to vote for Trump and her dismissal.
Additionally, She added: “I’ve had people tell me that they hope I never have a child and I got exactly what I deserve.
“As much as all the terrible comments have been coming through, I’ve also received an immense amount of support, especially from women who have gone through IVF, who struggle with infertility.”
Despite the negativity, she has also received strong support. Many women struggling with infertility have reached out to share their experiences.
Trump’s IVF policy falls short
Trump’s February 18 executive order, “Expanding Access to In Vitro Fertilization,” has disappointed many. Instead of making IVF free, it only reduces costs.
In short, Cooper now sees her vote differently.
“I have had a lot of tumultuous thoughts about that day,” she admitted. “I also had to come to terms with the fact that my vote may have taken chances away from others.”