(NewsNation) — There have been thousands of job cuts at federal agencies by the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency.
People have been fired from the Centers for Disease Control despite ongoing concerns over the bird flu, the Forest Service despite recent wildfires and recently the Internal Revenue Service in the midst of tax season.
Around 2,000 jobs were cut from the United States Department of Agriculture. One of the positions cut was that of Air Force veteran Derek Copeland, who was fired 11 days from his one-year mark at the agency.
While at the USDA, Copeland trained agriculture detection dogs and their handlers on how to operate in all environments to safeguard agriculture from invasive species and diseases.
“In the area that I work, we don’t get paid with tax dollars. We’re user fees,” Copeland said. “So that’s one misconception that I think people really don’t understand.”
Federal workers were told they were fired based on their “performance,” but Copeland said he had gotten praise from his supervisor and even a letter of recommendation saying he was one of the best trainers his boss ever had.
“There’s a lot of good things that we’re doing at the agency to improve efficiency as well. And so there’s obviously a huge disconnect somewhere with what’s going on,” Copeland said.
As a veteran, Copeland said, he was one of many who raised their hand to protect their country.
“A lot of us wanted to continue that in federal government,” Copeland said. “We don’t ask for much. We love our country, and all we ask in return is that it love us back and not have us be thrown out like a piece of trash when they’re done with us.”
