With a raw and emotional video that’s quickly gaining traction on TikTok, a woman has put a human face on the sweeping changes hitting America’s education and public service sectors under President Donald Trump.
Onyi Ijeh (@wontonamera), a 29-year-old former education and development professional, shared her story in a now-viral clip, highlighting the emotional and financial fallout of losing her job in what she describes as “a full frontal assault on education under Donald Trump.”
“I just came back from a double at a restaurant,” Ijeh says through fatigue, referencing her new role in food service after losing her career in education support through USAID. “I am seething every single day.”
In her video, Ijeh doesn’t hold back, calling out what she sees as deliberate policy decisions meant to dismantle not just agencies but entire career fields—especially those in global education, development, and government aid.
“One day I woke up and my entire career field is gone,” she says. “And nobody gave a fuck. Nobody still gives a shit.”
Ijeh’s frustration echoes the growing concerns among public servants, educators, and advocates nationwide who say job cuts and funding rollbacks in education-related agencies like USAID are not just political—but personal.
Many of these professionals have dedicated years to supporting education initiatives domestically and abroad, and now find themselves scrambling to make ends meet.
“It’s going to suck for everybody,” Ijeh warns in her video. “You don’t have to be a good person—just be smart.”
Her words resonate as a stark warning in a political climate where education, science, and public information are increasingly politicized.
The video captures a deeper sense of grief and confusion, as professionals like Ijeh try to rebuild while mourning careers they spent years nurturing.
In just a few minutes, Ijeh’s video shifts between grief, rage, and exhaustion—emotions that thousands of viewers have echoed in the comments.
It’s a glimpse into what happens when policies that may seem abstract on paper hit real lives in real time.
“People are just pretending like nothing happened,” she says. “When so many people are losing their jobs, their livelihoods…in what is going to be the worst fucking economy I’ve ever experienced.”
The comments under her post have offered her works of encouragement, with some sharing similar sentiments as hers:
“I’m so unbelievably sorry. My mom worked for USAID for 15 years, and it’s heartbreaking to watch ppls entire career get destroyed like this. You are so intelligent and I appreciate your voice.”
Another said:
“It’s ok to be so full of rage you come across as numb. You’re doing the best you can with the terrible situation dropped on you, and I’m proud of you. I can’t promise it will get better. I can promise.”
A third commenter noted:
“Just defended my PhD, wanted to be a professor and now bc of the trump funding cuts there are no academic jobs, no national lab jobs. 20 years of school and for what?”
As debates around public education and federal employment continue to heat up ahead of the 2024 election, voices like Ijeh’s are serving as reminders that these aren’t just talking points—they’re personal stories of loss, survival, and the fight to stay hopeful.
