'It makes me feel angry': Workers forced out by Trump and Musk speak at MSNBC town hall
MSNBC
[{'start': '0.080', 'end': '2.639', 'text': 'And I want to uh start by introducing'}, {'start': '1.600', 'end': '4.640', 'text': 'some of the folks that are in the room'}, {'start': '2.639', 'end': '6.319', 'text': "tonight. Let's start with Britney"}, {'start': '4.640', 'end': '8.080', 'text': 'Coleman. Britney was an attorney for the'}, {'start': '6.319', 'end': '10.160', 'text': 'Office of Civil Rights at the Education'}, {'start': '8.080', 'end': '11.440', 'text': "Department. Then there's Carrie Murray"}, {'start': '10.160', 'end': '14.080', 'text': 'Murphy, excuse me, who worked at the'}, {'start': '11.440', 'end': '16.160', 'text': 'Commerce Department. Alyssa Elman is a'}, {'start': '14.080', 'end': '17.920', 'text': 'disabled Army veteran who has let go'}, {'start': '16.160', 'end': '20.400', 'text': 'from her job at the Buffalo Veterans'}, {'start': '17.920', 'end': '22.560', 'text': 'Affairs Office. Sam Peterson was a park'}, {'start': '20.400', 'end': '24.240', 'text': 'guide for the National Park Service. And'}, {'start': '22.560', 'end': '25.920', 'text': 'Tamara May has spent 21 years in'}, {'start': '24.240', 'end': '27.599', 'text': 'government service working her way up at'}, {'start': '25.920', 'end': '29.840', 'text': 'the Centers for Disease Control and'}, {'start': '27.599', 'end': '31.439', 'text': 'Prevention. And that is where we begin'}, {'start': '29.840', 'end': '33.440', 'text': 'tonight. Tamara, thank you so much for'}, {'start': '31.439', 'end': '34.880', 'text': 'being here. Um, thank you for having me.'}, {'start': '33.440', 'end': '36.559', 'text': "Let's talk a little bit about the job"}, {'start': '34.880', 'end': '38.079', 'text': 'that you have at the CD that you had, I'}, {'start': '36.559', 'end': '40.000', 'text': 'should say, at the CDC. You were working'}, {'start': '38.079', 'end': '41.920', 'text': 'specifically on birth defects and'}, {'start': '40.000', 'end': '44.840', 'text': 'developmental disabilities. How to'}, {'start': '41.920', 'end': '47.120', 'text': 'support families who need extra help'}, {'start': '44.840', 'end': '49.960', 'text': 'during excuse me, conditions like cickle'}, {'start': '47.120', 'end': '52.559', 'text': 'cell anemia. This was mandated by a'}, {'start': '49.960', 'end': '54.879', 'text': 'bipartisan group in Congress. Did you'}, {'start': '52.559', 'end': '58.160', 'text': 'ever think that it would be abolished'}, {'start': '54.879', 'end': '59.719', 'text': 'entirely? No, I never did. There are 71'}, {'start': '58.160', 'end': '62.640', 'text': 'million people in this country with a'}, {'start': '59.719', 'end': '64.879', 'text': 'disability. So I truly believe that I'}, {'start': '62.640', 'end': '66.640', 'text': "don't want to use the word safe, but I"}, {'start': '64.879', 'end': '69.200', 'text': 'believe that as you said because it was'}, {'start': '66.640', 'end': '71.360', 'text': 'a bipartisan group that everyone'}, {'start': '69.200', 'end': '73.360', 'text': 'understood the importance of the work we'}, {'start': '71.360', 'end': '77.439', 'text': 'did and we were one of the smallest'}, {'start': '73.360', 'end': '79.840', 'text': 'centers at CDC and so we focused very'}, {'start': '77.439', 'end': '82.880', 'text': "heavily on impact because we didn't have"}, {'start': '79.840', 'end': '85.040', 'text': 'a large budget. So, we focused on impact'}, {'start': '82.880', 'end': '87.200', 'text': 'and really meeting the needs of the'}, {'start': '85.040', 'end': '88.799', 'text': 'audiences that we served and and an'}, {'start': '87.200', 'end': '90.560', 'text': "impact you made. I I know it's important"}, {'start': '88.799', 'end': '92.799', 'text': 'to you as someone who suffered a'}, {'start': '90.560', 'end': '94.320', 'text': 'debilitating injury from a natural gas'}, {'start': '92.799', 'end': '96.000', 'text': 'explosion for people out there that are'}, {'start': '94.320', 'end': '97.920', 'text': 'watching us tonight to see people'}, {'start': '96.000', 'end': '99.439', 'text': 'working for the federal government um'}, {'start': '97.920', 'end': '101.280', 'text': 'who have faced and live with'}, {'start': '99.439', 'end': '103.759', 'text': 'disabilities. Is that right? Yes,'}, {'start': '101.280', 'end': '107.040', 'text': 'absolutely. When my accident happened,'}, {'start': '103.759', 'end': '109.600', 'text': 'it was devastating to me. I um was in'}, {'start': '107.040', 'end': '111.840', 'text': 'the hospital for a year. I fought really'}, {'start': '109.600', 'end': '114.159', 'text': 'hard to go back to work because it was'}, {'start': '111.840', 'end': '115.840', 'text': 'always important to me to serve the'}, {'start': '114.159', 'end': '117.600', 'text': 'people of this country. And I think'}, {'start': '115.840', 'end': '120.000', 'text': "that's one of the things that's really"}, {'start': '117.600', 'end': '122.320', 'text': 'upsetting to me is because I truly'}, {'start': '120.000', 'end': '124.479', 'text': 'believe most federal workers, all'}, {'start': '122.320', 'end': '126.640', 'text': "federal workers that I've ever known are"}, {'start': '124.479', 'end': '129.280', 'text': 'in it because we want to serve this'}, {'start': '126.640', 'end': '131.200', 'text': 'country. So I went back to work and'}, {'start': '129.280', 'end': '133.760', 'text': 'every day was difficult for me from a'}, {'start': '131.200', 'end': '135.760', 'text': 'health perspective, but I did it because'}, {'start': '133.760', 'end': '137.120', 'text': 'of what we do. You know what? And it'}, {'start': '135.760', 'end': '138.319', 'text': 'matters to the American people. Thank'}, {'start': '137.120', 'end': '139.520', 'text': 'you, Tamara. Thank you so much.'}, {'start': '138.319', 'end': '141.080', 'text': 'Everybody give it up for Tamber. Thank'}, {'start': '139.520', 'end': '145.840', 'text': 'you so'}, {'start': '141.080', 'end': '148.000', 'text': 'much. Thank you. Sam, stand up. Uh Sam'}, {'start': '145.840', 'end': '149.440', 'text': 'was a park guide at the National Park'}, {'start': '148.000', 'end': '151.280', 'text': 'Service. Sam, you were at the Roosevelt'}, {'start': '149.440', 'end': '152.480', 'text': 'National Recreation Area in Oregon. You'}, {'start': '151.280', 'end': '153.920', 'text': 'also were down at the Jimmy Carter'}, {'start': '152.480', 'end': '155.599', 'text': 'National Historic Park. You served'}, {'start': '153.920', 'end': '157.280', 'text': 'during his funeral. Is that right? Yeah,'}, {'start': '155.599', 'end': '158.560', 'text': 'it was an extreme honor for me. Uh'}, {'start': '157.280', 'end': '160.560', 'text': "before being in the park service, I'd"}, {'start': '158.560', 'end': '162.800', 'text': 'been a high school history teacher. Um'}, {'start': '160.560', 'end': '164.879', 'text': 'and like so many park rangers in the'}, {'start': '162.800', 'end': '166.720', 'text': 'park service, just, you know, in love'}, {'start': '164.879', 'end': '168.160', 'text': 'with the idea of America and our history'}, {'start': '166.720', 'end': '170.319', 'text': 'and our treasures. So, it was an honor'}, {'start': '168.160', 'end': '171.599', 'text': 'for me. So, from history teacher to park'}, {'start': '170.319', 'end': '174.080', 'text': "service employee, you don't want to quit"}, {'start': '171.599', 'end': '176.400', 'text': 'on on public service, do you? No. I'}, {'start': '174.080', 'end': '178.480', 'text': 'truly believe that America is the best'}, {'start': '176.400', 'end': '180.560', 'text': 'country on earth and I believe the'}, {'start': '178.480', 'end': '182.879', 'text': 'American people deserve to have a'}, {'start': '180.560', 'end': '185.680', 'text': 'country that uh you know supports them'}, {'start': '182.879', 'end': '188.800', 'text': 'and that is available for them that they'}, {'start': '185.680', 'end': '190.400', 'text': 'are deserve to be educated or to see the'}, {'start': '188.800', 'end': '191.840', 'text': 'amazing vistas at the Grand Canyon or'}, {'start': '190.400', 'end': '193.599', 'text': "Yellowstone. Which is why it's such a"}, {'start': '191.840', 'end': '194.560', 'text': 'shame unfortunately that you took a job'}, {'start': '193.599', 'end': '195.440', 'text': 'outside the federal government even'}, {'start': '194.560', 'end': '196.720', 'text': 'though they offered for you to be'}, {'start': '195.440', 'end': '197.840', 'text': 'reinstated. It was too late. Do you'}, {'start': '196.720', 'end': '199.200', 'text': "think you'll go back ever to the federal"}, {'start': '197.840', 'end': '200.879', 'text': 'government? Um, well, being a park'}, {'start': '199.200', 'end': '203.200', 'text': 'ranger was my dream job. I sure would'}, {'start': '200.879', 'end': '205.760', 'text': "love to someday. Uh, I wasn't able to"}, {'start': '203.200', 'end': '208.000', 'text': 'because of our specific circumstances.'}, {'start': '205.760', 'end': '209.360', 'text': 'Uh, I had to move six hours away. I was'}, {'start': '208.000', 'end': '211.760', 'text': 'living in government housing when I got'}, {'start': '209.360', 'end': '213.040', 'text': 'fired. Uh, so I had to move. Um, you'}, {'start': '211.760', 'end': '214.480', 'text': "know, like I said, it's a dream job. So,"}, {'start': '213.040', 'end': '216.239', 'text': "I'd love to go back. Let's get you back"}, {'start': '214.480', 'end': '217.280', 'text': 'in the federal government. Okay. S,'}, {'start': '216.239', 'end': '218.560', 'text': 'thank you so much. Really appreciate'}, {'start': '217.280', 'end': '220.560', 'text': 'you. Before you go, what do you think'}, {'start': '218.560', 'end': '222.400', 'text': 'the the park experience could be like'}, {'start': '220.560', 'end': '224.080', 'text': 'for Americans this summer? This is what'}, {'start': '222.400', 'end': '225.280', 'text': 'Americans and people from all over the'}, {'start': '224.080', 'end': '227.360', 'text': 'world like to do for their summer'}, {'start': '225.280', 'end': '228.799', 'text': 'vacations. Yeah. So, I would predict'}, {'start': '227.360', 'end': '230.560', 'text': 'that Americans are going to see an'}, {'start': '228.799', 'end': '232.400', 'text': 'impact at their parks. They might not.'}, {'start': '230.560', 'end': '234.080', 'text': "Uh, and if they don't, uh, it's not"}, {'start': '232.400', 'end': '236.159', 'text': 'going to be sustainable. Um, they might'}, {'start': '234.080', 'end': '238.239', 'text': 'see overflowing uh, overflowing trash'}, {'start': '236.159', 'end': '239.439', 'text': 'cans and overflowing restrooms. Uh, just'}, {'start': '238.239', 'end': '240.720', 'text': 'today actually, the America the'}, {'start': '239.439', 'end': '242.319', 'text': 'Beautiful Act was introduced to'}, {'start': '240.720', 'end': '244.159', 'text': "Congress. So, if they don't want to see"}, {'start': '242.319', 'end': '246.400', 'text': 'impacts in their parks, uh, they should'}, {'start': '244.159', 'end': '247.920', 'text': 'call their, uh, Congress person and they'}, {'start': '246.400', 'end': '249.120', 'text': 'should support this legislation because'}, {'start': '247.920', 'end': '251.040', 'text': 'it could go a long way to help their'}, {'start': '249.120', 'end': '252.720', 'text': 'parks. Sam, thank you so much. Uh,'}, {'start': '251.040', 'end': '254.400', 'text': "Alyssa, let's hear from you. Thank you"}, {'start': '252.720', 'end': '255.920', 'text': 'so much for being here, Alyssa. you were'}, {'start': '254.400', 'end': '257.280', 'text': 'working at the um Buffalo Veterans'}, {'start': '255.920', 'end': '259.120', 'text': 'Affairs office in the education'}, {'start': '257.280', 'end': '260.720', 'text': 'department and I want everybody to know'}, {'start': '259.120', 'end': '262.000', 'text': 'not only are you a cancer survivor'}, {'start': '260.720', 'end': '264.800', 'text': 'potentially because you were exposed to'}, {'start': '262.000', 'end': '266.000', 'text': 'burn pits uh in Afghanistan, but you'}, {'start': '264.800', 'end': '267.040', 'text': 'went into the VA even though you'}, {'start': '266.000', 'end': '270.000', 'text': 'probably could have made the same amount'}, {'start': '267.040', 'end': '271.520', 'text': 'of money working uh excuse me accepting'}, {'start': '270.000', 'end': '273.600', 'text': 'disability payments. Is that correct?'}, {'start': '271.520', 'end': '274.560', 'text': 'That is correct. And so tell me why did'}, {'start': '273.600', 'end': '276.400', 'text': 'you decide to go into the federal'}, {'start': '274.560', 'end': '278.240', 'text': 'service and go to the VA? I decided to'}, {'start': '276.400', 'end': '281.199', 'text': 'do it because I really care about'}, {'start': '278.240', 'end': '283.759', 'text': "veterans. I love to work. Uh I didn't"}, {'start': '281.199', 'end': '286.479', 'text': 'want to feel like I was stagnant and'}, {'start': '283.759', 'end': '289.280', 'text': 'staying home. Uh I wanted to give back'}, {'start': '286.479', 'end': '291.759', 'text': 'to a system that has given me so much.'}, {'start': '289.280', 'end': '295.680', 'text': 'Um doctors at the VA treated my cancer,'}, {'start': '291.759', 'end': '299.120', 'text': 'saved my life. Uh thank you Dr. Ryan. Um'}, {'start': '295.680', 'end': '301.520', 'text': "but they were great for me and I haven't"}, {'start': '299.120', 'end': '303.199', 'text': "had um you know I've really benefited"}, {'start': '301.520', 'end': '305.040', 'text': 'from these systems and I wanted to be'}, {'start': '303.199', 'end': '307.280', 'text': 'able to do something that was impactful'}, {'start': '305.040', 'end': '308.639', 'text': 'even if it was small in order to give'}, {'start': '307.280', 'end': '309.759', 'text': 'back to it. Let me tell you something.'}, {'start': '308.639', 'end': '311.199', 'text': "You're doing something impactful right"}, {'start': '309.759', 'end': '313.199', 'text': "now and you're also doing something very"}, {'start': '311.199', 'end': '315.360', 'text': 'brave because you were told you could'}, {'start': '313.199', 'end': '317.440', 'text': 'have your job back but if you spoke out'}, {'start': '315.360', 'end': '318.960', 'text': "to media you couldn't and here you are"}, {'start': '317.440', 'end': '320.400', 'text': 'tonight speaking out in front of all of'}, {'start': '318.960', 'end': '321.680', 'text': 'us. I want to say all of you are very'}, {'start': '320.400', 'end': '324.400', 'text': 'brave but in particular what you were'}, {'start': '321.680', 'end': '325.840', 'text': 'faced with. Um why did you decide to'}, {'start': '324.400', 'end': '327.840', 'text': 'come and speak out tonight instead of'}, {'start': '325.840', 'end': '329.520', 'text': 'take your job back?'}, {'start': '327.840', 'end': '332.720', 'text': 'I feel like this is a critical time in'}, {'start': '329.520', 'end': '334.160', 'text': 'our country. I love America. I I love'}, {'start': '332.720', 'end': '336.320', 'text': "being from this country. I've traveled"}, {'start': '334.160', 'end': '338.400', 'text': 'the world. that there is no greater'}, {'start': '336.320', 'end': '340.240', 'text': 'system than what we have here. And I'}, {'start': '338.400', 'end': '342.560', 'text': "feel like it's just so very important to"}, {'start': '340.240', 'end': '345.440', 'text': 'talk about not just myself, but my'}, {'start': '342.560', 'end': '347.759', 'text': 'co-workers who work so hard to provide'}, {'start': '345.440', 'end': '349.919', 'text': "benefits even when it's inconvenient,"}, {'start': '347.759', 'end': '352.800', 'text': 'even when federal systems break, we work'}, {'start': '349.919', 'end': '354.639', 'text': 'overtime. We we exceed our production'}, {'start': '352.800', 'end': '357.440', 'text': 'numbers on a regular basis and to'}, {'start': '354.639', 'end': '358.960', 'text': 'characterize us as terrible people or'}, {'start': '357.440', 'end': '360.880', 'text': 'people who are lining their pocket with'}, {'start': '358.960', 'end': '362.639', 'text': 'federal dollars is a lie. You were'}, {'start': '360.880', 'end': '364.639', 'text': 'producing. How does that make you feel'}, {'start': '362.639', 'end': '366.960', 'text': 'when you hear that? It it makes me'}, {'start': '364.639', 'end': '369.120', 'text': 'really angry. Um I feel terrible'}, {'start': '366.960', 'end': '370.800', 'text': "because, you know, I'm in a really uh"}, {'start': '369.120', 'end': '372.639', 'text': "unique position where I don't really"}, {'start': '370.800', 'end': '374.639', 'text': 'need this job, but there are a lot of'}, {'start': '372.639', 'end': '376.240', 'text': 'people who I work with who this is the'}, {'start': '374.639', 'end': '377.440', 'text': 'money that they pay their mortgage with.'}, {'start': '376.240', 'end': '380.319', 'text': 'This is the money that puts their'}, {'start': '377.440', 'end': '382.800', 'text': "children into sports. Um they're afraid"}, {'start': '380.319', 'end': '384.400', 'text': "to talk. They're afraid to talk because"}, {'start': '382.800', 'end': '386.479', 'text': 'they really want their jobs back. This'}, {'start': '384.400', 'end': '390.160', 'text': 'is their primary source of income. These'}, {'start': '386.479', 'end': '392.319', 'text': 'people work really hard. We the the idea'}, {'start': '390.160', 'end': '395.520', 'text': "that we don't have any like"}, {'start': '392.319', 'end': '397.520', 'text': 'accountability for our job is a lie. Uh'}, {'start': '395.520', 'end': '400.479', 'text': 'we have to provide production numbers,'}, {'start': '397.520', 'end': '402.160', 'text': "numbers that we can't fake. Um you know,"}, {'start': '400.479', 'end': '403.759', 'text': "they're looking at our computers for"}, {'start': '402.160', 'end': '407.120', 'text': 'every single thing that we do during the'}, {'start': '403.759', 'end': '409.280', 'text': "day. And it's wrong to talk about"}, {'start': '407.120', 'end': '411.840', 'text': 'employees who are working really hard'}, {'start': '409.280', 'end': '414.160', 'text': 'for you and doing their best to pro, you'}, {'start': '411.840', 'end': '415.759', 'text': 'know, to provide these services in that'}, {'start': '414.160', 'end': '416.800', 'text': 'way in a productive in a productive way.'}, {'start': '415.759', 'end': '419.039', 'text': "The thing I've heard over and over,"}, {'start': '416.800', 'end': '420.479', 'text': 'Steph, time and time again is that uh on'}, {'start': '419.039', 'end': '422.240', 'text': 'their performance reviews, these'}, {'start': '420.479', 'end': '423.520', 'text': 'performance reviews ultimately were'}, {'start': '422.240', 'end': '424.639', 'text': 'positive for all of these. How many of'}, {'start': '423.520', 'end': '426.400', 'text': 'you got a positive performance review'}, {'start': '424.639', 'end': '427.280', 'text': 'just out of curiosity? There you go.'}, {'start': '426.400', 'end': '428.400', 'text': "There's your answer. Let's get the"}, {'start': '427.280', 'end': '429.680', 'text': 'camera around. Oh, well, keep your hands'}, {'start': '428.400', 'end': '431.199', 'text': 'up, please. If you had a positive'}, {'start': '429.680', 'end': '432.960', 'text': 'performance review, raise your hand.'}, {'start': '431.199', 'end': '434.400', 'text': 'Yeah. Thank you very much. I appreciate'}, {'start': '432.960', 'end': '435.759', 'text': 'you talking to us. Thank you very much.'}, {'start': '434.400', 'end': '437.360', 'text': 'Um Carrie, I want to make sure to get'}, {'start': '435.759', 'end': '439.759', 'text': "you in here. You're an administrative"}, {'start': '437.360', 'end': '441.840', 'text': 'officer uh for the CHIPS operation'}, {'start': '439.759', 'end': '443.440', 'text': 'inside the Department of Commerce. Tell'}, {'start': '441.840', 'end': '446.160', 'text': 'me what CHIPS is.'}, {'start': '443.440', 'end': '448.240', 'text': 'chips is the bringing the manufacturing'}, {'start': '446.160', 'end': '449.840', 'text': 'of semiconductors back into the United'}, {'start': '448.240', 'end': '452.560', 'text': "States. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Isn't"}, {'start': '449.840', 'end': '456.800', 'text': 'that what President Trump said he wanted'}, {'start': '452.560', 'end': '458.400', 'text': "to do? That's why I thought I was safe."}, {'start': '456.800', 'end': '459.520', 'text': 'You know, that and the fact that, you'}, {'start': '458.400', 'end': '461.800', 'text': "know, they were saying we're just going"}, {'start': '459.520', 'end': '464.479', 'text': 'to get rid of waste, fraud, and abuse.'}, {'start': '461.800', 'end': '467.280', 'text': 'And the mission that we were assigned to'}, {'start': '464.479', 'end': '469.280', 'text': 'do is was not that. Then how do you feel'}, {'start': '467.280', 'end': '471.840', 'text': 'right when you watch the administration'}, {'start': '469.280', 'end': '473.840', 'text': "every day talk about uh we're going to"}, {'start': '471.840', 'end': '476.080', 'text': "bring jobs back, we're going to bring"}, {'start': '473.840', 'end': '478.400', 'text': "manufacturing back when that's exactly"}, {'start': '476.080', 'end': '480.080', 'text': "what you were working on. That's exactly"}, {'start': '478.400', 'end': '482.160', 'text': 'and and the colleagues I was working'}, {'start': '480.080', 'end': '484.560', 'text': 'with, I mean, shout out to all of them.'}, {'start': '482.160', 'end': '487.120', 'text': 'We were a very small group, but the most'}, {'start': '484.560', 'end': '488.879', 'text': 'brilliant, hardworking people. And that'}, {'start': '487.120', 'end': '490.639', 'text': 'kind of piggybacks off of what Alyssa'}, {'start': '488.879', 'end': '493.680', 'text': "said, you know, it's like we're getting"}, {'start': '490.639', 'end': '495.440', 'text': 'a wrap of I ran into someone the other'}, {'start': '493.680', 'end': '496.560', 'text': 'day, my neighbor, and she said, "Why'}, {'start': '495.440', 'end': '497.840', 'text': "didn't you just want to go back to"}, {'start': '496.560', 'end': '499.919', 'text': 'work?" And I said, "What do you mean?"'}, {'start': '497.840', 'end': '501.440', 'text': 'And she said, "Well, aren\'t the people'}, {'start': '499.919', 'end': '504.160', 'text': 'that are getting fired either poor'}, {'start': '501.440', 'end': '505.759', 'text': 'performers or those that chose not to go'}, {'start': '504.160', 'end': '506.720', 'text': 'back when we were mandated to go?"'}, {'start': '505.759', 'end': '508.400', 'text': "That's not what it looks like in this"}, {'start': '506.720', 'end': '510.479', 'text': "room tonight, is it? That's not the"}, {'start': '508.400', 'end': '512.000', 'text': "truth. Yeah. Uh Carrie, it's all kind of"}, {'start': '510.479', 'end': '513.680', 'text': 'dizzying, too. So many of these people,'}, {'start': '512.000', 'end': '515.200', 'text': 'how many of you have been fired,'}, {'start': '513.680', 'end': '517.120', 'text': 'reinstated, and fired again, or some'}, {'start': '515.200', 'end': '518.479', 'text': 'version of that? Yeah, there you go. One'}, {'start': '517.120', 'end': '520.240', 'text': 'more time for everybody. Hands up high,'}, {'start': '518.479', 'end': '522.000', 'text': 'please. Fired, reinstated, and then'}, {'start': '520.240', 'end': '523.760', 'text': "fired again. It's all very dizzying. How"}, {'start': '522.000', 'end': '525.680', 'text': 'do you understand sort of the disorder'}, {'start': '523.760', 'end': '527.120', 'text': "of this process? You you can't"}, {'start': '525.680', 'end': '528.880', 'text': "understand because every day you're"}, {'start': '527.120', 'end': '531.040', 'text': 'wondering, is today the day I lose my'}, {'start': '528.880', 'end': '533.360', 'text': 'job? Is today the day I get my job back?'}, {'start': '531.040', 'end': '535.440', 'text': 'Do I do I have insurance each day?'}, {'start': '533.360', 'end': '537.760', 'text': "That's a whole another issue that we're"}, {'start': '535.440', 'end': '539.200', 'text': "running into now. So, you can't Yeah,"}, {'start': '537.760', 'end': '540.640', 'text': 'there are so many stories just like'}, {'start': '539.200', 'end': '542.320', 'text': 'insurance is one of them. And and I'}, {'start': '540.640', 'end': '544.160', 'text': 'thank you so much for sharing yours. Uh'}, {'start': '542.320', 'end': '545.760', 'text': "Britney, let's get you in here. Britney,"}, {'start': '544.160', 'end': '546.880', 'text': 'you were an attorney in the Office of'}, {'start': '545.760', 'end': '548.640', 'text': 'Civil Rights in the Department of'}, {'start': '546.880', 'end': '550.800', 'text': 'Education. You were doing compliance'}, {'start': '548.640', 'end': '552.640', 'text': 'type work with anti-discrimination,'}, {'start': '550.800', 'end': '553.680', 'text': 'disability laws, disenfranchise'}, {'start': '552.640', 'end': '555.839', 'text': 'communities to make sure they have'}, {'start': '553.680', 'end': '557.120', 'text': 'access to available sources of of'}, {'start': '555.839', 'end': '560.720', 'text': "financial assistance. Who's going to"}, {'start': '557.120', 'end': '563.440', 'text': "serve those families now? Well, we've"}, {'start': '560.720', 'end': '566.880', 'text': 'lost about 50% of our staff because of'}, {'start': '563.440', 'end': '569.040', 'text': 'these cuts. So, um I can say for my'}, {'start': '566.880', 'end': '571.600', 'text': 'office, Office for Civil Rights, we went'}, {'start': '569.040', 'end': '574.160', 'text': 'from having 12 regional offices down to'}, {'start': '571.600', 'end': '575.440', 'text': "five. from 12 to 5. That's correct. And"}, {'start': '574.160', 'end': '577.040', 'text': 'one of the things about your story that'}, {'start': '575.440', 'end': '578.480', 'text': 'I found so compelling is that you said'}, {'start': '577.040', 'end': '581.279', 'text': 'you were once in the shoes of the people'}, {'start': '578.480', 'end': '583.120', 'text': 'you served. Absolutely. I mean, I was'}, {'start': '581.279', 'end': '584.640', 'text': 'once a student in school who wanted to'}, {'start': '583.120', 'end': '586.240', 'text': 'make sure that I had opportunities. I'}, {'start': '584.640', 'end': '587.680', 'text': 'applied for federal student aid. I'}, {'start': '586.240', 'end': '589.760', 'text': 'wanted to make sure that I was treated'}, {'start': '587.680', 'end': '591.839', 'text': 'fairly and my parents did at times have'}, {'start': '589.760', 'end': '593.839', 'text': 'to go to the school and advocate for me.'}, {'start': '591.839', 'end': '595.839', 'text': 'This is what our office is for is that'}, {'start': '593.839', 'end': '597.440', 'text': 'when people need to advocate for their'}, {'start': '595.839', 'end': '599.680', 'text': 'children, our students need to advocate'}, {'start': '597.440', 'end': '603.600', 'text': 'for themselves that they have an avenue'}, {'start': '599.680', 'end': '606.560', 'text': 'and an advocate that will look into well'}, {'start': '603.600', 'end': '608.959', 'text': 'a neutral neutral party I should say who'}, {'start': '606.560', 'end': '610.720', 'text': 'is an advocate for enforcing the laws of'}, {'start': '608.959', 'end': '613.040', 'text': 'our nation and making sure that everyone'}, {'start': '610.720', 'end': '615.760', 'text': 'is treated fairly and that was you.'}, {'start': '613.040', 'end': '617.760', 'text': "That's correct. So, right now, if folks"}, {'start': '615.760', 'end': '619.120', 'text': 'were in your position as a student and'}, {'start': '617.760', 'end': '621.279', 'text': 'they need help and they would want to'}, {'start': '619.120', 'end': '623.680', 'text': 'reach out to your former office, what do'}, {'start': '621.279', 'end': '625.279', 'text': 'they do? Who do they call? Well, my'}, {'start': '623.680', 'end': '626.959', 'text': 'office, the Dallas office is one of the'}, {'start': '625.279', 'end': '629.040', 'text': 'seven offices that was closed. So,'}, {'start': '626.959', 'end': '631.360', 'text': 'unfortunately, the workload has now been'}, {'start': '629.040', 'end': '633.200', 'text': 'shifted to the Kansas City office. But'}, {'start': '631.360', 'end': '635.360', 'text': 'you have to keep in mind that that staff'}, {'start': '633.200', 'end': '637.360', 'text': 'is now dealing with what was already'}, {'start': '635.360', 'end': '639.920', 'text': 'hard enough to deal with with 50 cases'}, {'start': '637.360', 'end': '643.920', 'text': "per person. They're now dealing with 300"}, {'start': '639.920', 'end': '645.760', 'text': "to 350 cases. 300 to 350 cases. That's"}, {'start': '643.920', 'end': '647.440', 'text': 'correct. And so that type of work for'}, {'start': '645.760', 'end': '648.720', 'text': "work workload, Britney, is it's it's"}, {'start': '647.440', 'end': '650.079', 'text': 'inconceivable, I would imagine, to'}, {'start': '648.720', 'end': '651.519', 'text': "people in your line of work. It's"}, {'start': '650.079', 'end': '653.200', 'text': "unsustainable. But it's not just"}, {'start': '651.519', 'end': '655.200', 'text': "penalizing us, it's penalizing the"}, {'start': '653.200', 'end': '657.279', 'text': "students because they're having to wait"}, {'start': '655.200', 'end': '658.800', 'text': 'for us to get to their cases for relief'}, {'start': '657.279', 'end': '660.240', 'text': 'when they need it. Well, Britney, thank'}, {'start': '658.800', 'end': '662.800', 'text': 'you very much for being here. And Steph,'}, {'start': '660.240', 'end': '664.720', 'text': 'I I have to say, um, not only an'}, {'start': '662.800', 'end': '666.800', 'text': 'extraordinary group of people and not'}, {'start': '664.720', 'end': '668.000', 'text': 'only very sad stories, but at the same'}, {'start': '666.800', 'end': '669.120', 'text': 'time such inspiring ones to have'}, {'start': '668.000', 'end': '670.480', 'text': 'everybody be here tonight, be in the'}, {'start': '669.120', 'end': '671.600', 'text': "same room with us. it. Uh, there's"}, {'start': '670.480', 'end': '674.600', 'text': 'something special going on here, you'}, {'start': '671.600', 'end': '674.600', 'text': 'guys.'}]