Daijiworld Media Network - West Virginia

West Virginia, Mar 7: Jennifer Piggott, once a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, has had a change of heart after losing her job in a wave of federal layoffs. Piggott, 47, who proudly displayed a Trump campaign flag outside her home, was among 125 employees dismissed from the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Fiscal Service (BFS) in February.

The layoffs, part of Trump’s aggressive cost-cutting drive led by efficiency czar Elon Musk, have rattled Parkersburg, a community that overwhelmingly backed the former president. While many had expected government reforms, few anticipated such widespread job losses.

"Nobody understood the devastation this administration would bring to our lives," said Piggott, adding that she would not have supported Trump if she had foreseen the consequences.

West Virginia, a Republican stronghold, gave Trump 70% of the vote in the last election. Yet, as more government workers face the axe, resentment is growing. More than 100,000 federal employees have already been dismissed or taken buyouts. With further cuts expected, concerns are mounting over the local economy, with businesses fearing reduced spending and job losses.

While Trump’s administration justifies the layoffs as part of an effort to eliminate waste, critics argue that the BFS workforce was targeted unfairly. Local politicians, including Republican state legislator Scot Heckert, worry about the economic fallout. "People voted for Trump for change, but this is devastating," he said, revealing that his own daughter-in-law was among those fired.

Disillusionment is spreading among former Trump loyalists. Piggott, now struggling to make ends meet with her disabled veteran husband, faces the prospect of selling her home.

Meanwhile, the White House remains firm in its stance, with spokesperson Harrison Fields stating, "The president is committed to making government more efficient." However, with the March 13 deadline looming for further job cuts, the fear of economic uncertainty is gripping Parkersburg and beyond.