Mike Macans poses for a portrait outside his residence in Anchorage, Alaska, on February 23, 2025. A former U.S. Army serviceman for five years, Macans was recently employed as a disaster recovery coordinator with the Small Business Administration, but he was officially let go on February 11, 2025.
Ash Adams for NPR

Ash Adams for NPR

Mike Macans received shocking news over two weeks ago: the Small Business Administration notified him for the first time that he was being terminated from his position as a disaster recovery coordinator in Anchorage, Alaska.

Since then, he has yet to receive the necessary documents to file for unemployment benefits, nor has he been informed about the status of his family’s health insurance coverage.

“They cut me out of all my access,” Macans laments. “The only support I’ve found is through online forums—on Reddit, of all places.”

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has dismissed tens of thousands of federal employees in a sweeping elimination of probationary positions, focusing primarily on those in their initial years of employment.

The chaotic nature of these mass dismissals has led some government agencies to reinstate workers who were terminated merely days or hours prior.

Labor unions have taken action, filing a federal lawsuit in San Francisco to compel the government to halt the termination process and reverse the dismissals executed. Attorneys based in Washington, D.C., have submitted a class action complaint requesting intervention from the Office of Special Counsel.

As the outcry grows from affected employees, Macans states, “Don’t vilify those who have served this country and deliver essential services to our citizens.”

Part of a Comprehensive Strategy

The recent terminations are merely one aspect of the Trump administration’s extensive initiative to reduce the federal workforce, which currently stands at 2.3 million. A drastic ultimatum was presented to federal employees in late January: either resign with benefits until September or risk being dismissed. This directive has placed numerous employees across the government on administrative leave, rendering them unable to perform their duties.

Over the past weekend, billionaire Elon Musk—a special advisor to Trump—issued another ultimatum to remaining staff.

In a recent message on X (formerly Twitter), Musk hinted that employees could be at risk of losing their jobs if they failed to respond to an email request from the Office of Personnel Management that asked for a list of five tasks they completed in the last week. Due to uncertainties around the legality of this request, several agency leaders have advised their teams against responding.

With his job lost, Macans’ primary worry is the loss of health insurance. His wife, a cancer survivor, requires expensive medications to manage her autoimmune condition, and they are parents to a five-month-old and a toddler.

Lara Macans criticizes the government’s failure to consider the consequences of mass firings on the families of federal employees.
Ash Adams/for NPR

Ash Adams/for NPR

“The complete disregard for the repercussions on not just employees but their families is shocking,” states Lara Macans, Mike’s wife.

A Role Tailored for Him

Mike Macans’ position with the Small Business Administration was his second commitment to public service, having previously served as an airborne infantryman with the U.S. Army stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

After five years in military service, he transitioned into security work on Alaska’s North Slope and later into emergency management with the state, a role he found fulfilling.

“Alaska faces every conceivable disaster risk, from volcanic eruptions to hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, fires, and floods,” he explains.

In his role, Macans assisted communities in navigating federal and state grants to restore essential infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and dams. He established a robust network in disaster recovery, collaborating closely with FEMA and the Small Business Administration.

In August, he was presented with a new opportunity with the Small Business Administration as a recovery coordinator for Region 10, which encompasses Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Feeling like a “phone-a-friend” for disaster management, his role involved guiding businesses in resilience building and tackling long-term recovery challenges post-disaster.

His profound understanding of Alaska’s extreme weather conditions and diverse communities made him exceptionally suited for this position.

“We genuinely believed this was going to be my career, that I would retire from this role,” shares Lara Macans with enthusiasm.

A Confusing Termination Process

Macans learned about his termination on February 7, when an email arrived with the subject line “Notification – Termination of Probationary Period.”

An attached letter stated, “The Agency finds you unfit for continued employment due to inadequate performance and the lack of skills meeting the Agency’s current needs.”

The termination was set for February 21.

Like many federal workers ‘dismissed that month, Macans was taken aback by the news.

In the six months since he took the post, he’d received no performance issues. In fact, his first evaluation rated him as “an exceptional asset to the Agency” and noted he consistently met high standards in his work.

Lara and Mike Macans are parents to a five-month-old and a toddler. They relied significantly on his salary and benefits to support their family.
Ash Adams/for NPR

Ash Adams/for NPR

When Lara, who works as a part-time nurse, returned home that day, she recognized immediately that something was amiss.

“That was when he dropped the bombshell,” she recalls. “I couldn’t even wrap my head around it.”

The weekend that followed was distressing for Macans. He experienced frustration and had trouble sleeping.

“When the lights go out and you try to sleep, you’re left alone with your thoughts,” he reflects. “There’s nothing to do but ruminate.”

On Monday, more surprises awaited. A colleague informed him about an impending update regarding the termination notifications dispatched previously.

“Sure enough, within a few hours, we received an email stating that the previous notification had been sent by mistake and was no longer in effect,” Macans explains. “What does that signify?”

His uncertainty lingered. The next day, he received a final notice confirming his termination effective end of business on February 11, with the content of the two letters being almost identical.

“That was the last official communication I received pertaining to my employment status from the SBA,” he shares. “No follow-up whatsoever.”

Fortunately, Macans had proactively begun saving his work documents prior to being fired.

“Given that they terminated me and then reinstated me, I started forwarding my files to my personal email immediately,” he recounts.

He has filed an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board, an entity designed to tackle employment disputes within the federal sector, although he remains skeptical about the chances of reinstatement.

“I’ve Never Felt More Betrayed”

Meanwhile, Macans expresses deep disillusionment with the government.

“I’ve never felt more betrayed in my entire life,” he adds.

While he empathizes with the call for reforms in governmental operations and budget management, he maintains a constructive approach.

“Those criticisms are very valid,” he acknowledges. “I’m striving to be part of the solution.”

In the meantime, he has begun seeking new employment opportunities.

“You know, with a family of four, we need a steady income and health coverage,” he states. “Ultimately, my family’s well-being comes first, and I will do whatever it takes for them.”

If you have information regarding ongoing changes within the federal government, NPR’s Andrea Hsu can be reached through encrypted communications on Signal at andreahsu.08.