I had to take a Day and Breathe....it has been a chaotic week and I feel like I need to tell my Federal Worker TRUTH. So many of my Friends and Family are caught up in this chaos and their stories are much like mine.....but luckily I am Retired! I turned on the Music, Opened the Back door and tried to clear my mind of all the worry that consumes me everyday. Josie was very appreciative of the Sunshine and opportunity to be outside or part way inside.
She stayed close as she feels my anxiety and tries to comfort me even tho she has only known me as Retired. I'm a small town Illinois girl who came to Missouri in 1978. I worked as a Florist, tried to be an Insurance Agent and finally at my Mother-In-Laws insistence took the Civil Servants Test and was hired as a Temp employee in 1988 for USDA. I was trained and doing daily commodity reports for Cotton! I always loved the South and learned so much about Cotton and Peanut crops and how they were Bought and Sold and traded by the Government. I kept looking for a Permanent job in the listings and Applied for a RWA Clerk at GSA. I took that job offer as a GS4 in 1989. I took an Oath to the Constitution with other new Hires, it was a Proud moment. I was permanent but the 2 year probation time seemed to take forever. Whew I made it. I typed 4 part Reimbursable Work Authorizations, Answered phones, Opened Mail and was at the desk right inside the door of the South Field Office. I soon realized I was the "Shell Answer Woman" and tired my best to know the answer or find one ASAP. This was at the Bannister Rd offices where many folks were diagnosed with cancer.....so far so good. I worked with Wage Grade Plumbers, HVAC, Carpenters and Janitorial Staff that kept the Complex in tip top shape with all it's Challenges. Several would later Die from Beryllium poisoning as they also serviced the Bendix/Honeywell offices.
I applied for an Accounting job GS5 promotion and was hired! I took a few Accounting Classes at Longview but soon realized that Government Accounting was different and the Classes only confused me. So this High School Grad dove into 3 Different Systems and became the Lead Tech. for Fedpay, Autopay and Vendor coding. I turned in several Suggestions to a program to IMPROVE processes and 2 were adopted. I received Cash Awards and Certificates of Recognition, I was so proud to be a Government Employee! I applied and received a GS6 with the General Programs Accounting office Region 6 where Bills were paid for GSA Nationwide. My Region was Central Office Washington DC. I would work with DC folks on a daily basis and really loved this job......but I was about to get a DIVORCE and needed more funds to live on my own. Several Co-workers had applied to the Department of Commerce downtown for a GS7. I applied and was hired in 1994. Little did I know DOC was about to enter a tumultuous time and a RIF (Reduction in Force) would come in Early 1996. I only had 6 years of Government time and the only way to save myself was to get another job with another Agency. I applied to Department of Defense for a lateral move and was hired right before my RIF date. My new Job was in Albany Ga. for 6 months and then back in Kansas City in the Old Hardesty Building where I would see some of my Field Office days Wage Grade workers trying to keep that Building running. Sadly an HVAC guy was electrocuted and passed away. Doing his job.....
Hardesty was closing and our jobs were heading back to Bannister. I was a GS7 now and DOD was not near as progressive in Accounting as GSA and I took a lateral move back to the same desk I left in 1994 at GSA with a few additional duties in 1997. I would later apply for a Ladder position and be promoted and do this job until I retired in 2022. I trained Accountant Interns, Tested and mastered our new Accounting System in 2000. We survived Y2K! I received the Brenda G. Robinson Customer Service Award in 2002. I never stopped working hard.....My desk involved Month end deadlines much like a Bank. I never took time off at Month end for YEARS!! During my Career I worked for 7 Presidents. Political affiliation was never a factor. We did the work. My story is much like that of most Government workers. My Friends and Family who are now in turmoil and not sure of their future. Their Mortgage payment, Electric Bill, Groceries!!
They deserve to be treated like human beings and not Naughty children. Rules, Policies and Procedures are in place to downsize Agencies. Agency Heads are the most qualified to make these decisions. Employees are due this process. An outsider Billionaire is not qualified to make ANY of these decisions! I listen to him talk and he is clueless! There is NO WAY any amount of DOGE unvetted, no Background checked employees can read responses to 2 million emails expected to be replied to Monday at 11:59! This is ridiculous! DOGE is NOT a Congressional approved Agency!! They are firing people with no cause or reason! Unemployment numbers will be thru the Roof!
Please pay attention America and call your Congressmen and Representatives. Google their names and Call their offices!
Mr. X is taking YOUR Personal Information and who knows what they are going to do with it. IRS, SSA and Treasury have all been compromised by this Chaos. Be aware and vigilant to your Rights.
Most of you who know me, I hope know that I worked very hard as a Government Employee and not only valued your TAX money but your Trust. I worked with all kinds of people from all walks of life and feel Blessed to have had that opportunity! We need to cut spending but let's start with the TAX CUTS for those making over $400,000.00 and all the Millionaires and above! No Extension.....Please they need to PAY taxes! I want to see that number....let's put that directly to the DEBT!
Let's be aware of the knowledge going out the door with these senseless firings and instead collaborate with Employees to find Efficiencies. Who better to do the work than the Workers!
And if this gutting of Agencies continues I fear the Economy will suffer for ALL of us. So many Programs will STOP that help the most fragile of our Nation.
Please Pray for our Country and Be Kind!
If you made it this far, THANK YOU
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