TL/DR –
Michaela, a 57-year-old woman who had previously been treated for stage one breast cancer, unexpectedly collapsed and was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer that had spread to her spine. Her husband, who works for the Department of Transportation and had been working remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was forced to return to in-person work when Trump won the 2024 election and ended remote work arrangements for federal employees. The couple also faced financial uncertainty as a result of a 43-day government shutdown, the longest in US history, and rising healthcare premiums, while also dealing with the emotional and physical toll of Michaela’s cancer.
Michaela’s Battle with Breast Cancer amid Workforce Reductions
While watering plants in May 2025, Michaela experienced sharp pain from her hip which led her to discover she had a mass on her spine, later diagnosed as metastatic breast cancer. This was a shock to the 57-year-old who did not anticipate that her breast cancer had metastasized to her spine. She expressed fears about leaving her husband alone, with no children or family to support him.
Michaela’s husband, a veteran in the Department of Transportation, faced uncertainty when Trump won the 2024 presidential election. Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, he had worked remotely from their Baltimore home. But with Trump’s victory, he braced himself for a return to in-person work.
Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office, calling for the termination of all remote work arrangements. The office of personnel management subsequently directed federal agencies to implement it, irrespective of collective bargaining contracts.
Michaela underwent surgical treatment and radiation in July, and is presently on an oncology regimen called Kisqali and hormone therapy. She had previously battled stage one breast cancer in 2014, which was treated with a partial lumpectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, and tamoxifen, a hormonal therapy. She received regular checkups until her recent diagnosis of stage four metastatic breast cancer.
Throughout the year, her husband managed to keep his position despite workforce reductions at the Department of Transportation. By May, nearly 2,800 employees had left the agency due to reductions, retirements, and voluntary resignations.
According to a memo from the Department of Transportation, they projected a reduction in workforce by 20% from February 2025 levels by the end of December 2025. This equates to over 10,000 fewer employees. Meanwhile, the office of personnel management reported in a blog post in November that overall federal employee cuts had exceeded goals, with 317,000 departures and just 68,000 new hires.
As employee numbers dwindled, a government shutdown began on October 1, lasting for 43 days, the longest in US history. Amid this crisis, Michaela was worried about another looming government shutdown set for January 30, 2026, unless a long-term deal is reached. She said, “I’m already battling a life-threatening illness, and I don’t know where it’s going to take me. I could be here for another year or two. I could be here for 10 years.”
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