Thousands of US public employees are in the eye of the hurricane by the Trump government, why?

They are part of President Donald Trump’s first targets: US federal officials, about three million in all the United States, feel in “state of siege” after a cataract of measures of the new president that affects them. “People cries in the offices of their supervisors, wondering what will happen to their jobs”describes an official of the Interior Department to the AFP who works 100% in Teleworking.

“We were already distressed and fearful about what would come” but “when the decrees began to leave, we said: ‘Wow! This is much worse than we imagined, ”he summarized. Like this woman, who accept to speak with media take precautions. They do not give names and there is hardly any reference to their dependence and region. They speak as long as they are not identified, some even through messages of messages. Many prefer not to express themselves.

“It is quite symptomatic of the atmosphere,” said an official from another department that is also on teleworking. “People started using their personal phones because they are worried about being monitored in some way. It is crazy, ”adds the first employee.

During the electoral campaign, Trump had promised to trust billionaire Elon Musk, the richest man in the world turned into a nearby collaborator, the direction of a “government efficiency department” aimed at restructuring the federal public administration and cutting the expense of the State.

Since his return to power last week, the Republican president signed a series of decrees that have federal officials such as Blanco: dismantling of prodern policies, equality and inclusion (DEI for its acronym in English) and compulsive vacations before dismissal in 60 days for those who deal with these programs; Freezing, end of teleworking and even unfavorable provisions to encourage administrative careers.

“In general, one feels in a state of site,” said the official who telework a few hours from Washington. “Everyone is sad” waiting for the “impact. There is a lot of uncertainty, and that is leading to a lot of anxiety, ”he described.

“We all grab the slightest information,” said a young employee of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Many rumors circulate in the halls, everyone gathers to talk about what he heard about their superior, and gives different information … we are concerned about budget cuts,” Indian.

Everyone received an official email that explicitly asks for anyone who conceals activities linked to Diversity programs, one of Trump’s priority whites. In a message to which the AFP had access, to the employees of an agency based in Washington they are asked to “point out all the facts and circumstances” in this regard. “They ask us to denounce our colleagues,” a official is alarmed.

“I have worked in the Federal Public Sector since 2014 and I never saw such a unreasonable and aggressive mail,” described the man who works near Washington. “We have the feeling that it no longer takes collections: it launches its worst initiatives,” He said about the Republican Millionaire and his publicized measures.

Even so, many works ensure that they will not be intimidated by the decisions of the Trump government. “Somehow, reinforces my determination. I will not let myself be intimidated, ”says the official who telework on the east coast. “Half wants to keep your head up. ‘I know what they try to do and I won’t let them win.’ And the other half believes that this is brutal ”, Describe the employee of the Department of Interior.

The Federal Government uses about three million people, according to the US office of labor statistics. A figure that remains relatively stable since the 1970s.