From Hope to Regret: Americans who voted for Trump now struggling with job losses

Michael Gregnard, a former legal advisor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cast his vote for Donald Trump in the November presidential election, believing the Republican candidate would be the best choice to boost the economy. 

However, just a few months later, he’s regretting that decision.

Gregnard recently lost his job as part of the sweeping layoffs across multiple U.S. government agencies under President Trump’s administration. 

He is not alone. 

Thousands of federal workers, including many high-ranking officials, have lost their positions as Trump seeks to reduce government spending and workforce size.

Gregnard shared his regret with CNN, saying, “If I had known this would happen, I would never have voted for Trump. My office managers had assured us that our jobs were secure.” He added, “I‍‍`m completely shaken. This was the job of my dreams. I had just moved with my pregnant wife and young child to Little Rock, Arkansas, a few days ago. I thought I would keep this job and spend the rest of my life working here.”

Several others who lost their jobs expressed similar sentiments. 

Many believed that Trump‍‍`s policies aligned with their own values, and they expected life to improve under his leadership. 

However, after Trump took office, their jobs were eliminated, leaving them struggling to find new employment.

Trump’s decision to cut jobs across government agencies, including dismissing top officials and offering financial incentives to 77,000 employees to resign voluntarily, has caused widespread distress. 

Many workers, like Gregnard, feel betrayed. 

“I support making government agencies more efficient. But the way the government is handling this is wrong. This is one of the reasons we didn’t vote for him,” Gregnard explained.

James Diaz, who previously worked for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), also voiced his disapproval. 

“I did vote for Trump, but I disagree with how his administration has been handling the mass layoffs,” he said.

One woman, who previously worked at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, shared her frustration anonymously. 

"I lost my job just three weeks after starting a new position! I thought that with Trump in power, there would be new job opportunities and inflation would decrease. But the way Trump is eliminating jobs, had I known this, I would never have voted for him."

As these workers reflect on their decisions, the impact of Trump‍‍`s administration is being felt by those who believed they would thrive under his leadership but are now facing uncertain futures.