Jessi Katzenmeyer, a biologist with the U.S. Forest Service, was abruptly terminated while attending a child’s birthday party. Facing a looming holiday and a requirement to turn in her belongings quickly, she felt devastated. Katzenmeyer, who worked with endangered species and had hoped for a long career in conservation, now worries about financial stability and unemployment benefits, as her termination suggests poor performance. She is among many federal employees affected by staff reductions under the USDA’s efficiency efforts, with fears of increased workload and high vacancy rates impacting the preservation of vital species. Job security and future prospects now loom uncertain for her family.
‘I was at a birthday party for a 4-year-old when I received the news. I got a call on Sunday informing me that I was terminated and needed to return my belongings by Tuesday since Monday was a holiday.’
Fired federal employee says ‘qualified and necessary’ workers lost jobs
Kim Smith, a former archeologist with the USDA, believes she and others were wrongfully terminated, claiming President Trump did not adhere to federal regulations.
A reduction in the federal workforce has been a prominent topic in recent weeks as reports indicated that 75,000 employees accepted buyouts, with thousands more being terminated soon after.
For many, these figures might seem abstract while they carry on with their lives, but for one Mississippi woman, the drive towards government efficiency has drastically altered her existence.
“I was at a birthday party for my children’s friend,” mentioned Jessi Katzenmeyer of Brandon. “I was at a 4-year-old’s birthday party when I found out.
“I received a call on Sunday informing me that I was terminated and had to return my things by Tuesday because Monday was a holiday. My heart sank.”
Katzenmeyer is a married mother of two girls, aged 6 and 4. She worked as a biologist with the U.S. Forest Service, focusing on threatened and endangered species. A graduate of Northwest Rankin High School, she earned her master’s degree in wildlife science from Mississippi State University.
Previously, she had worked for USDA Wildlife Services in Florida and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality before landing what she described as her dream position with the USFS.
U.S. Forest Service employee, a wife, and mother of two young kids, loses her dream job
“This is truly heartbreaking,” Katzenmeyer said, struggling to hold back tears. “My entire life, this was my dream. I had the most wonderful boss. (He) was incredible.”
The work she performed was deeply meaningful to her. She collaborated with numerous species that either were endangered, threatened, or proposed for protection. She emphasized that her absence would leave a substantial void due to the lack of available staff.
Even prior to her termination, the office experienced staffing shortages.
“There were several critical vacant positions in my office,” Katzenmeyer stated. “Many tasks will go unfulfilled. Sadly, important work will be forgotten or overlooked.”
Losing a job that held such significance is one challenge; losing the associated income is another. Katzenmeyer mentioned that her husband and children relied on her insurance. Additionally, she has taken her youngest daughter out of daycare and her eldest out of after-school care due to the financial strain.
While Katzenmeyer does photography on the side, that only provides supplementary income and does not sufficiently compensate for the loss of her job, health insurance, and retirement benefits.
Terminated federal employee worries about unemployment benefits
Katzenmeyer also expressed concerns about her eligibility for unemployment benefits due to the phrasing in her termination letter.
“It implies poor performance,” Katzenmeyer noted. “To qualify for unemployment, it must be through no fault of my own.”
When questioned about performance-related terminations and unemployment benefit eligibility, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security Communications Department provided the following information via email.
“Unemployment Insurance (UI) is designed to alleviate the economic impact of unemployment by providing temporary income for individuals who are unemployed through no fault of their own.”
“If a person quits or is dismissed, they may still qualify for benefits. If it is determined that you were not let go due to misconduct connected with your work, or if you can show you had good reason for leaving your employment, you may be eligible for assistance.
“In general, misconduct refers to an action that is either willful or shows intentional disregard for the employer’s interests.”
Federal employee fired weeks before ending of probation period
Though her termination suggests poor performance, Katzenmeyer asserted that this was not the case. Like many others affected, she was still within her probation period, having been hired less than a year ago. She had just 38 days remaining before her probationary status would be lifted.
“That was the reason they could terminate all probationary employees,” Katzenmeyer explained. “I suspect that was a strategy to systematically let go of a large number of people at once.”
The exact number of federal employees terminated in Mississippi has not been disclosed. Within the USFS in Mississippi, Katzenmeyer is aware of others who received termination notices.
“I know of at least 11 individuals, including myself, but I’m certain the actual number is higher,” Katzenmeyer stated. “It could be a significantly larger figure.”
Loss of job casts uncertain future for biologist
These individuals in Mississippi were part of a broader trend occurring nationally. When queried about the workforce reductions, a spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicated that the number of affected employees was in the thousands, stemming from initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency and safeguarding taxpayer money.
“As part of these efforts, USDA made the challenging decision to release approximately 2,000 probationary, non-firefighting employees from the Forest Service. To clarify, none of these individuals were operational firefighters.”
While the USDA’s choice may have been “difficult,” it places Katzenmeyer in a far more precarious situation.
“I am fearful,” Katzenmeyer confessed. “It may take time for me to find another job.
“The field is highly specialized. It’s just a lot of stress right now, and uncertainty looms large.”
Do you have a story suggestion? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or [email protected].