By Siena Houk, Staff Writer
When a President introduces new policies, the effects ripple across the country, impacting everyday people, such as Federal employees. Under Donald Trump’s administration, changes in government regulations, budgets, and labor rules have altered how millions of federal workers are able to do their jobs. From shifts in pay and benefits to stricter workplace rules, these policies can influence anything from how national parks operate to how social services are delivered. But how does this relate back to the students attending River Hill? Whether it’s your parents’ jobs, summer internships, or even future career plans, understanding these changes can help you see how government decisions directly affect people’s lives.
On January 20, President Trump signed an Executive Order, Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce. Under the order, federal agencies must review and identify positions that involve policy-making, policy advocacy, or confidential advisory duties and recommend them for transfer to the new policy schedule.
Sophomore Isha Patel’s parents both work in the federal government. The budget cuts “have definitely started to impact them. My mom, who works at a federal agency, says there’s been a lot of uncertainty lately—people are worried about layoffs and pay freezes” Due to the new hours and policy issues, many people have been facing lesser pay, and fear of losing their jobs. With this, families will face problems meeting their basic needs.
Junior Wasif Khalid’s mom is “a teacher so she has been affected by the new policy. There haven’t been a lot of financial changes in my house recently but my parents have been more stingy with buying groceries.”
On the other hand, a new big change is having to work longer hours. Sophomore Shyam Patel’s parents “are both working longer hours, trying to keep up with the same workload but with fewer resources. It’s been tough because we’ve had to cut back on things we usually do, like family vacations.” Continuing with these struggles, Shyam’s family has also had to cut back on “small stuff, like eating out. My dad says he feels like morale at work is low, and there’s a lot of stress around job security.”
Due to these changes, Sophomore Casey Moss has been rethinking “whether I want to go into government work. I mean, it’s great that they have good benefits, but the cuts make everything feel unstable. I also worry about how these cuts affect services we rely on, like public transportation and healthcare—my parents say those areas are definitely feeling the strain.” With the unstable working conditions, longer hours, risk of cuts, and possible issues with public transport, this seems to be a much more risky field to go into now.
Even though many government policies may seem distant from your daily life, they can have real effects on you and your family. If your parents work for the federal government, changes to their job security, wages, or benefits could impact your household. Beyond that, these policies can shape the quality of public services, from school funding to healthcare and transportation. As high school students prepare for their futures, it’s important to understand how these decisions could affect career choices and financial stability.