My name is Maxwell. I’m a federal worker here in Maryland, and here’s what’s happening within the government. The onslaught of Elon Musk and Trump’s combined efforts to denigrate and intimidate not just me and my colleagues, but all federal workers has created a sense of disgust and paranoia that has been impossible to shake. Every day, I watch colleagues and friends lose their jobs as essential agencies are gutted and positions are slashed. I still have my job—for now—but it feels like the ground beneath me could give way at any moment. 

This is about much more than just people losing jobs. When federal workers like my counterparts are laid off, our country loses people who provide critical services to the public. These are the folks who keep the wheels turning, often without recognition or fanfare. They ensure that someone picks up the phone when disaster strikes. They’re on the front lines, making sure families get the help they need. Seeing these vital roles stripped away is devastating and infuriating. Veterans Affairs, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, to watch my federal colleagues at these agencies dedicate their lives serving the American public, only to be gleefully mocked by Trump and Elon - it truly leaves me heartbroken. 

I also have to share something that I’m frankly ashamed to admit. Over these last few weeks, I’ve slowly realized that my response to all of this has been to carefully censor myself.  I’ve censored what I post online. What organization do I affiliate myself with? Who do I donate to? And how I support the progressive movement in Maryland? I’ve let the knowledge that there is a watchful eye hovering over federal workers, evaluating MAGA-loyalty, push me into withdrawing from the communities and organizations that need help now more than ever. 

If you’re not a federal employee and you're interested in what it's like on the inside, I’ll try to provide a general understanding of the situation. The current administration has made no secret of its intentions. OPM’s director, and key contributor to Project 2025, Russel Vought, has clearly stated his goal with federal employees is to “put them in trauma.” I can tell you they are pursuing that goal with ravenous enjoyment. Russell Vought’s organization even created “watchlists”—lists of federal employees who have supported Democratic campaigns or candidates. If it’s not explicitly clear enough whether the watchlist is meant to intimidate and harass federal civilians, the individuals on the list are identified as “Targets.” 

The result of Trump, Elon, and Vought’s actions has had a truly chilling effect. A donation here, a signature there, and suddenly, your name is burned into a document that labels you a “Target.”  I’ve read stories of people being targeted just for donating to candidates like Kamala Harris or Bernie Sanders. It’s not paranoia; it’s a published fact. And now federal workers like me are left wondering if our job security hangs on how invisible we can make ourselves.

This is not what democracy looks like. This is not the freedom to engage in civic life that we were promised. It is both terrifying and the current reality. The simple act of using your off-work time to donate to a charity that doesn’t align with MAGA’s goals, or to discuss your support of certain marginalized groups, may be weaponized against you. I’ve been trying to figure out how much risk I’m willing to take on, weighing how much I can afford to do without inviting retaliation. It’s exhausting, demoralizing, and a stark reminder of how far things have gone off the rails.

But beyond my personal fears, my heart aches for others in the public service sector. These aren’t just names and numbers disappearing from payrolls. These are real people, real families, losing stability and purpose because the system is being dismantled to serve the interests of the powerful. Watching this unfold, it’s hard not to feel angry at those who claimed to stand for the people, only to target us so blatantly. 

Something has to change. This level of fear, intimidation, and dismantling goes beyond bad policy or bad politics. It’s a direct attack on service workers who hold up our nation's infrastructure. Every day we remain silent, we allow the scaffolding to be stripped away, piece by piece.

For me, I’m still figuring out what I can safely do. I’m still working through the fear. But one thing I know for sure is that silence can’t be the answer. That’s why I demand that Congress protect workers and condemn these targeted scare tactics. Together, we have to push back against this dismantling and fight for a government that serves, protects, and respects every one of us. Because if we don’t, what will be left when the dust settles?

–Maxwell, Member of Progressive Maryland