After serving in the Air Force, I went to Washington to serve our country again — until one day, when I walked into work just to be fired alongside dozens of my colleagues through a pre-recorded video.
I thought I had found a home at the Office of Personnel Management — that I had found a way to raise my hand again to help my community. But, President Donald Trump had other plans, and his team told us we had 30 minutes to shut everything down.
Watching all of those people, my colleagues, my friends, being fired for no fault of their own, crushed my spirit.
Federal workers are hard workers — we don’t deserve to have our own government tell us, “You’re on your own.”
I doubt the president, as someone who didn’t serve, knows that about 30% of all federal employees are veterans. When Trump fires over 15,000 Marylanders, rest assured, some of those people wore the flag of our nation on their shoulder, and all of them were working to improve the lives of the people in our state.
But I know a veteran who does know this: Gov. Wes Moore.
I know this because when Trump launched direct assaults against our state, Moore stepped in to take those blows — he was ready to fight the good fight.
When I was fired and looking for work, the governor’s $700 interest-free loan program helped me pay the bills until I got back on my feet. When I couldn’t make ends meet, the state stepped in to provide me with SNAP benefits that kept food on the table.
Even in the midst of this government shutdown, Governor Moore continues to direct the state of Maryland to ensure federal programs continue to operate in our state, shield federal workers from eviction, foreclosure and utility shutoffs and expand emergency assistance programs.
I thank Governor Moore for doing what he was elected to do — protect the people of Maryland, no matter who is in the White House. We are all in this together, and I know that as President Trump continues to attack Maryland, Governor Moore has our backs.
Shernice Mundell is a former federal worker whose employment was terminated by the Trump administration. She lives in Edgewood.
