As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, some federal workers are opting out of the festivities. These employees, who were once proud of their national service, now feel exhausted and angry after a year of government overhaul under President Donald Trump.

Impact on Federal Workers

One federal worker, Edward, a 30-year military veteran, has lost his enthusiasm for the Fourth of July celebrations. He feels that the Trump administration’s actions have wronged his colleagues and damaged the federal workforce. Edward is not alone in his sentiments, as many other federal workers are also choosing to stay home and avoid the celebrations.

Jonas, a program analyst at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), was rehired six months after being terminated. However, during his time off, he had to dip into his savings and ask family for help to pay for medical appointments. Jonas’s experience is just one example of the struggles that federal workers have faced under the Trump administration.

Low Morale Among Federal Workers

Morale is low among federal workers, particularly at the Social Security Administration, where employees have been reassigned to answer phones and handle a growing workload. One employee, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that she doesn’t feel like celebrating the Fourth of July this year, as she feels that the holiday has lost its purpose under the Trump administration.

Some Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are also feeling bitter about the celebrations, as they had to go without pay during a record-long partial government shutdown earlier this year. One supervisor at a Florida airport expressed her frustration, stating that the funds spent on the celebrations could be better used to support food stamps, scientific research, and other priorities.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.