Tonya Shepherd
@tonyashepherd.bsky.social
Microbiologist turned honey bee biologist and lecturer. Opinions are my own. She/her/hers
Reposted by Tonya Shepherd
RIP USAID — all remaining 900 employees will be fired.
March 28, 2025 at 8:59 PM
RIP USAID — all remaining 900 employees will be fired.
Reposted by Tonya Shepherd
But in the light of the moon, for animals who are sensitive to ultraviolet light, THE SQUIRREL GLOWS WITH PINK FLUORESCENCE!!! (Kohler et al. 2019) #2025MMM
March 11, 2025 at 12:34 AM
But in the light of the moon, for animals who are sensitive to ultraviolet light, THE SQUIRREL GLOWS WITH PINK FLUORESCENCE!!! (Kohler et al. 2019) #2025MMM
Reposted by Tonya Shepherd
Hundreds of workers at the CDC. More than 1,000 at the NIH. Scores of staffers at the FDA.
Trump’s purge of federal employees includes those doing lifesaving work. Many of them expressed fear at what would happen to the projects they left behind.
By @anniewaldman.bsky.social & @deldeib.bsky.social
Trump’s purge of federal employees includes those doing lifesaving work. Many of them expressed fear at what would happen to the projects they left behind.
By @anniewaldman.bsky.social & @deldeib.bsky.social
They Worked to Prevent Death. The Trump Administration Fired Them.
Public health teams are being gutted, imperiling efforts to safeguard organ donation and prevent maternal and infant death. Many workers expressed fear at what would happen to the work they left…
propub.li
March 1, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Hundreds of workers at the CDC. More than 1,000 at the NIH. Scores of staffers at the FDA.
Trump’s purge of federal employees includes those doing lifesaving work. Many of them expressed fear at what would happen to the projects they left behind.
By @anniewaldman.bsky.social & @deldeib.bsky.social
Trump’s purge of federal employees includes those doing lifesaving work. Many of them expressed fear at what would happen to the projects they left behind.
By @anniewaldman.bsky.social & @deldeib.bsky.social
Reposted by Tonya Shepherd
And by the way, if you're someone who's been hurt by the firings and freezes (and is comfortable with it), call your Democratic electeds and let them know you'd like to tell your story to the public! Someone who represents you is looking for an experience like yours to highlight, I promise.
Every single Democratic governor and attorney general needs to do this -- if only to make it clear to voters *right now* that the firings and funding freezes that are about to hurt their states badly are the work of Trump-Musk in Washington.
Get ahead of this now, or get blamed for it later.
Get ahead of this now, or get blamed for it later.
Arizona AG Kris Mayes, New Mexico AG Raul Torrez, and Oregon AG Dan Rayfield will begin holding Community Impact Hearings — a national series of townhalls "to hear from the public about the impact of federal firings and DOGE funding freezes across the country."
The first will be in Phoenix March 5.
The first will be in Phoenix March 5.
February 27, 2025 at 2:36 AM
And by the way, if you're someone who's been hurt by the firings and freezes (and is comfortable with it), call your Democratic electeds and let them know you'd like to tell your story to the public! Someone who represents you is looking for an experience like yours to highlight, I promise.
Reposted by Tonya Shepherd
Fealty to Donald Trump will not spare you from his cruelty.
It's strength — not weakness — that curbs his baser instincts.
Now is the time for us to be strong.
It's strength — not weakness — that curbs his baser instincts.
Now is the time for us to be strong.
February 28, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Fealty to Donald Trump will not spare you from his cruelty.
It's strength — not weakness — that curbs his baser instincts.
Now is the time for us to be strong.
It's strength — not weakness — that curbs his baser instincts.
Now is the time for us to be strong.
Reposted by Tonya Shepherd
Somebody somewhere
Needs flowers tonight
Needs flowers tonight
February 26, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Somebody somewhere
Needs flowers tonight
Needs flowers tonight
Reposted by Tonya Shepherd
Media and stakeholder pressure on these firings is working. Some federal entomology-related jobs were restored today, not many, but it's progress. To those who have supported and kept up the pressure, please continue; you’re making a difference. #entomology 🧪
Contact me to learn how to help.
Contact me to learn how to help.
February 21, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Media and stakeholder pressure on these firings is working. Some federal entomology-related jobs were restored today, not many, but it's progress. To those who have supported and kept up the pressure, please continue; you’re making a difference. #entomology 🧪
Contact me to learn how to help.
Contact me to learn how to help.
Reposted by Tonya Shepherd
So.
It has officially happened. I have been officially let go from my position at CDC. I wasn’t a probationary employee. I had stellar performance reviews every year.
I’ll be ok. But please understand that many worked HARD to get into these positions and were doing great public health work.
It has officially happened. I have been officially let go from my position at CDC. I wasn’t a probationary employee. I had stellar performance reviews every year.
I’ll be ok. But please understand that many worked HARD to get into these positions and were doing great public health work.
February 21, 2025 at 8:14 PM
So.
It has officially happened. I have been officially let go from my position at CDC. I wasn’t a probationary employee. I had stellar performance reviews every year.
I’ll be ok. But please understand that many worked HARD to get into these positions and were doing great public health work.
It has officially happened. I have been officially let go from my position at CDC. I wasn’t a probationary employee. I had stellar performance reviews every year.
I’ll be ok. But please understand that many worked HARD to get into these positions and were doing great public health work.
Reposted by Tonya Shepherd
One of the entomologists who was fired and one of the dog trainers who helps train dogs, among other things, to keep insect pests out of the country. #entomology Worth a listen! 🧪
www.npr.org/2025/02/20/n...
www.npr.org/2025/02/20/n...
A military vet and a scientist were securing America's food system. Trump fired them
More than 10,000 federal employees who had yet to complete their probationary periods have been fired by the Trump administration, including those who work to protect American agriculture.
www.npr.org
February 20, 2025 at 9:24 PM
One of the entomologists who was fired and one of the dog trainers who helps train dogs, among other things, to keep insect pests out of the country. #entomology Worth a listen! 🧪
www.npr.org/2025/02/20/n...
www.npr.org/2025/02/20/n...
Reposted by Tonya Shepherd
Are you an Entomology Society of America member? Have you or a fellow entomologist been affected by recent federal actions? ESA is collecting stories on how these changes impact members and research.
Share your story: app.smartsheet.com/b/form/7a1ed...
#Entomology #science🧪
Share your story: app.smartsheet.com/b/form/7a1ed...
#Entomology #science🧪
Smartsheet Forms
app.smartsheet.com
February 19, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Are you an Entomology Society of America member? Have you or a fellow entomologist been affected by recent federal actions? ESA is collecting stories on how these changes impact members and research.
Share your story: app.smartsheet.com/b/form/7a1ed...
#Entomology #science🧪
Share your story: app.smartsheet.com/b/form/7a1ed...
#Entomology #science🧪
Reposted by Tonya Shepherd
NEW: NSF confirmed that they fired 168 employees today, out of their staff of ~1,500 feds.
This includes some people who'd finished their 1-year probationary periods, which were extended to 2-years last month without explanation. More to come.
This includes some people who'd finished their 1-year probationary periods, which were extended to 2-years last month without explanation. More to come.
February 18, 2025 at 4:16 PM
NEW: NSF confirmed that they fired 168 employees today, out of their staff of ~1,500 feds.
This includes some people who'd finished their 1-year probationary periods, which were extended to 2-years last month without explanation. More to come.
This includes some people who'd finished their 1-year probationary periods, which were extended to 2-years last month without explanation. More to come.
Reposted by Tonya Shepherd
10% of NASA’s workforce has been laid off—guess that’ll be a boost for SpaceX.
February 18, 2025 at 7:35 PM
10% of NASA’s workforce has been laid off—guess that’ll be a boost for SpaceX.
Reposted by Tonya Shepherd
Another wave of entomologists lost their jobs today. I’ve lost track of the taxa, lost track of their specialties, but not of the loss itself. Fresh minds, eager to contribute, shown the door before they even had a chance. A real shame. I feel like all I am posting is losses here. #entomology 🧪
February 18, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Another wave of entomologists lost their jobs today. I’ve lost track of the taxa, lost track of their specialties, but not of the loss itself. Fresh minds, eager to contribute, shown the door before they even had a chance. A real shame. I feel like all I am posting is losses here. #entomology 🧪
Devastated for all of my friends and colleagues who were abruptly fired in the last week.
February 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Devastated for all of my friends and colleagues who were abruptly fired in the last week.