
In a recent episode of CBS’s “60 Minutes,” aired on Sunday night, the program showcased two individuals, Kristina Drye and Adam Dubard, who claimed to have lost their jobs due to cuts made by President Donald Trump’s administration. Their stories were intended to resonate emotionally with viewers.
However, it’s important to clarify that neither Drye nor Dubard were actual employees of USAID; they were consultants working for an external firm called XLA. According to their LinkedIn profiles, both had brief tenures at XLA, providing consulting services to USAID.
CBS reported that they were “fired this month amid the tumultuous shutdown of foreign aid managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The administration sent over 8,000 USAID staff members home.”
“People are really scared,” Drye commented on the segment. “Just 12 days ago, they knew where their next paycheck was coming from, how they would afford child care and medical expenses. Then, in an instant, it was all taken away.”
However, it’s crucial to note that neither Drye nor Dubard were counted among the actual USAID layoffs, as they were not direct employees. Drye served as a speechwriter and communications analyst for the USAID Administration team via XLA and Jefferson Partners, working specifically with Administrator Samantha Power. Dubard’s role was that of a Communications Analyst for XLA, affiliated with the USAID Public Engagement team within the Bureau of Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA). While Dubard spent nearly a year in his position, Drye had been with the agency for about 2.5 years, a far cry from the long-term public servants CBS portrayed them to be.
Drye subtly acknowledged this disparity in her remarks by referring to the affected workers in the third person. “And they had to leave the building,” she noted. “These are individuals with decades of public service dedicated to USAID, spanning administrations from George Bush to Obama to the first Trump term. They were never able to return.”
Dubard expressed his view that the Trump administration prioritized loyalty over competency, stating, “It’s not about being good at your job; it’s purely about loyalty. If you don’t show it, there will be consequences.”
The Trump administration has been re-evaluating programs that it deems wasteful or misaligned with its objectives, a practice that has been within the purview of U.S. presidents for years.
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Erick Erickson, a radio host, highlighted a recurring theme in media coverage, noting that news outlets often depict “victims” of Republican policies while showcasing beneficiaries of Democratic policies. “When Democrats are in power, the press highlights those benefiting from their policies. Conversely, when Republicans lead, the focus shifts to victims of their decisions. You never hear from those who lost their jobs when Biden canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, for example,” he stated.
The Erickson Rule of Media Coverage: When Dems are in charge, the press highlights beneficiaries of policies. When Republicans are in charge, the press highlights victims of policies. You never heard from the people who lost their jobs when Biden killed the Keystone XL, etc. https://t.co/pcxiE78S46
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) February 17, 2025
