“ People are going to die.”
Christa worked nearly a decade at the NIH, first as a contractor and then as a probationary employee supporting biomedical research and diversity initiatives. Despite strong performance reviews and even an award, she was fired twice in 2024—first under the false claim of poor performance, then again under an executive order. The chaotic process left her and others without basic information about benefits, HR support, or unemployment paperwork. Christa fears the long-term damage to U.S. research, as canceled grants, lost scientists, and reduced funding threaten decades of progress and even lives.