I lost my job at USAid. It’s devastating – but I still have hope | Christian Smith

Fueled by deception, the Trump administration is abandoning millions worldwide. The changes hit me close to home

When we rang in the New Year, I wasn't remotely expecting politics to collide with my career, my family and me. In a matter of weeks, I had lost my job, my father and, I felt, my country.

I spent a dozen years as a program officer for USAid, serving in countries in South America, Africa and Asia with my family. I loved my job working with governments and NGOs to improve the lives of those in need. Doing good and doing well, we said. I was helping to build an information system to improve aid transparency and efficiency when sudden news arrived.