Amy Uccello, a former employee of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), was dismissed by email while on maternity leave in January 2025, receiving only three days of health insurance and no severance. She had worked within USAID and affiliated organizations for over 20 years, earning $175,000 annually. The termination allowed a mere 24 hours to clear out her workplace.

Since then, Ms. Uccello and her husband, who also lost employment after funding for his nonprofit organization ceased, have faced significant financial hardship. They now rely on government assistance programs, including food stamps, Medicaid, and a supplemental nutrition program for women and children to support their 19-month-old daughter. Their mortgage was placed in forbearance after falling behind on payments, but the bank has recently ended the arrangement and advised them to consider a low-income mortgage program, though eligibility remains uncertain.

The couple has applied for more than 100 jobs without success, and many of their acquaintances are reportedly also unemployed. Ms. Uccello, 49, described increased stress and sleeplessness due to both their personal struggles and the broader impact on former colleagues.

The job losses are linked to the dismantling of USAID’s global aid operations during the previous administration, which effectively eliminated large portions of the international development sector headquartered in Washington, D.C. This restructuring has had wide-reaching consequences for professionals in the field and for aid programs worldwide.