From hopeful foster mom to unemployed CDC worker in less than 60 minutes
Bree Danner was in her Atlanta office at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February when the call came.
After years preparing to become a foster mom, a caseworker was asking if she could house a child in need, perhaps for the long haul.
She was excited. But then, uneasy. Three weeks in, the Trump administration was already eliminating federal government jobs. She wondered about her own.
Danner had been building toward foster parenting, part of what she sees as a life of service. At the CDC, she worked with community organizations across the country who won grants to fight substance abuse.
“Public service has been my life,” she said. “We all go into this because we want to serve. Not because we want to make money.”
Less than an hour after she hung up with the caseworker, Danner and her team learned that the Trump administration planned to fire thousands of probationary workers as part of sweeping layoffs across the federal government. Danner had worked for the CDC for several years but she had recently changed departments, which meant she was on “probationary” status — and out of a job.
“My career in public service has completely been destroyed for absolutely no reason,” she said.
Danner knows she’s employable. But the job hunt will be a challenge because of the sudden firing of thousands of health workers at once, amid federal funding cuts to outside organizations that normally might hire them.
Danner doesn’t have a big savings account. She is single. So, she called the caseworker back and said she couldn’t move the child into her own unstable situation.
Georgians react
To gauge the effects of the administration’s first 100 days, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution spoke with residents who have lived with the results. Amid a blitz of executive orders, tariffs, lawsuits, layoffs and funding cuts, they’re exhausted, thrilled, scared, hopeful. Here are their stories:
An Emory research study on Alzheimer’s comes to abrupt halt
Shrimp boat owner hopes tariffs will revive local fishermen
From hopeful foster mom to unemployed CDC worker
Pardoned Jan. 6 defendant wants Democrats punished
Her husband was arrested by immigration agents
DEI rollbacks threaten Atlanta woman’s work
Tariff ‘gloom and doom’ for Atlanta wine seller
Atlanta entrepreneur steers clients through trade war
AJC poll: Trump’s support sinks in Georgia as economic fears rise
“It was devastating to me,” said Danner, who has not yet found other employment but is active in the group of fired employees suing the President Donald Trump’s administration.
“I had a lot of guilt at not being able to take in that little girl.”
One bright spot for her: Because multiple court fights are still ongoing, the Trump administration has continued to pay Danner and her colleagues while they job hunt.
“I would rather be doing my CDC job,” she said. “I would much rather.”
More coverage of Trump’s effects on Georgia
The first 100 days: Georgians are scared, thrilled about changes
CDC cuts factor into Georgia Senate race
More logging in Georgia’s national forests? It’s possible under a new directive
After layoffs, federal employees navigate uncertain job market
Afraid of church: Some immigrant faithful stay away on Sunday
Georgia protests show growing resistance against Trump administration
About the Author
Ariel Hart is a reporter on health care issues. She works on the AJC’s health team and has reported on subjects including the Voting Rights Act and transportation.
