Forking Off

Madeline Vellturo spent the last decade working on violence prevention, peacebuilding, and stability. Between April and July, the State Department eliminated the entire Conflict and Stabilization Operations Bureau, where Madeline worked as a stabilization advisor implementing the Global Fragility Act. Now Madeline is continuing her mission through storytelling. Along with former colleagues, she launched their YouTube channel Former Feds & Friends, where they share their expertise in violence prevention while reacting to popular film and media. By looking at conflict prevention through the lens of fiction, Madeline and friends are making complex problems approachable and digestible in an age of weaponized media.In their first season, they took on topics from authoritarianism and atrocities to insurgencies and refugees while running the pop culture gauntlet through DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Disney, and others. In the spirit of Christmas, Philip and Jill joined Madeline for an age-old holiday tradition: watching Die Hard. Together, we discussed the dangers of biases, interagency conflict, and mislabeling violent criminals as terrorists.Madeline isn't spending all of her time on YouTube though. She is staying sharp by consulting on violence prevention and recently published an article analyzing foreign investment risk and opportunity in Guinea. She's also enjoying life as a newlywed and pursuing future research opportunities.Check out the Christmas crossover special Forking Off with Former Feds & Friends.Die Hard - McClane's Big MistakeDie Hard - Hans Gruber's DownfallConnect with Madeline on LinkedIn, and make sure to check out Former Feds & Friends on YouTube.Learn more about this episode on our website.If you enjoy Forking Off with us, consider supporting us on ⁠Ko-fi⁠, and ⁠follow us⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, or wherever you get your podcasts.----------The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the individuals providing them and do not necessarily represent the views of the FBI, the DOJ, the Department of State, the United States, or any past or current employers.

Ali Syverson never considered working for USAID before she applied for a position in climate and environmental communication, but after spending the first half of her career in corporate social responsibility she knew she wanted to work in the public sector. When Ali moved from the private sector in early 2020, she worried about the stereotypes of “lazy government workers." Instead, she found extremely hard-working colleagues and a fast-paced, caring agency diligently providing humanitarian and development assistance around the world. That all came unraveled in 2025. With USAID decimated, Ali turned to her art and reflected on the near collapse of the foreign aid industry.After the November 2024 elections, Ali and her colleagues knew their days were numbered; they had all read Project 2025. Even with this knowledge, none of them were prepared for how quickly the new administration would dismantle and destroy the agency. Two weeks into the administration, all of USAID’s websites were removed from the internet. By the end of February, most USAID employees received Reduction in Force notices, including Ali who had decided to take the Deferred Resignation (aka, the Fork in in the Road). Ali lived in a heightened state of anxiety for the first two months of 2025, and used her art to commemorate all that had been lost.In the aftermath of the destruction, Ali needed to pause and take a breath. Ali knew she wanted to focus on her art for the rest of the year, but she needed time to release herself from the constant ‘fight or flight’ of the first two months of 2025. After moving out of DC, Ali spent 40 days in Spain resting and resetting. Ali spent every day outside painting, reflecting on all that had been lost, reconnecting with herself, and focusing on how to approach the future.While healing, Ali painted From the American People, a celebration and commemoration of USAID’s sixty years of global humanitarian work. After returning from Spain, Ali sold hundreds of prints to help displaced USAID workers. Ali raised over $15k, which was donated to a mutual aid organization and used to pay rent for at least six returning families.Although Ali’s job as a climate and environmental writer is gone, Ali's voice is still deeply rooted in the relationships she made and programs she helped. Using her art as her platform, Ali has brought the story of USAID’s destruction to people across the country, including a solo exhibition at the Warehouse Arts District in St. Petersburg, Florida. Ali’s art was also featured at the Don't Look Now exhibition in New York City alongside other artists who were censored this year.Ali may have lost her dream job at USAID, but she did not lose her dreams. Ali is using her experiences to rebuild and start anew. She is now taking time to create art every day in her new home studio in Minnesota, while also settling into her new job in the arts as the Communications Director for Minnesota Humanities.Check out Ali's art on her website, and follow her story on Instagram.Learn more about this episode on our website.If you enjoy Forking Off with us, consider supporting us on ⁠Ko-fi⁠, and ⁠follow us⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, or wherever you get your podcasts.----------The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the individuals providing them and do not necessarily represent the views of the FBI, the DOJ, USAID, the United States, or any past or current employers.

Sarah Ellison Hernandez's dream was to become a judge. In 2018, Sarah's dream was realized when she was appointed as an immigration judge. It was the highlight of her career. She remembers excitedly calling her mom with the news. To this day, the memories of her swearing-in ceremony make her emotional because of the weight and importance of her oath. Sarah thought this would be her forever job. Normally, a new presidential administration will cause a few changes to immigration courts, but those are just adjustments in priorities and don't spark legal concern. Beginning in January, Sarah saw what she calls "bread crumbs" of the administration trying to go somewhere with immigration law and policy. Sarah was concerned by the barrage of "spicy" policy memos being released daily. These memos laying the groundwork to fire employees for minor infractions. Sarah became increasingly concerned when she learned the US State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices would no longer include information about persecution of women, individuals with disabilities, or LGBTQ+ individuals. They also removed or reduced coverage of issues such as fair trials, political freedom, corruption, and more. Immigration judges rely heavily on these annual reports to adjudicate asylum claims for protection from persecution or torture. Sarah recalled a time when she relied on the reports to grant a claim for a woman who had escaped an honor killing in India. This change was one of the first moments Sarah saw the administration taking away protections for everyone. Every day in 2025 was something new for Sarah, and things were only getting worse. The DOJ's Executive Office of Immigration Review was instructing immigration judges to pretermit applications. Cases were to be dismissed, and individuals were to be placed in expedited removal. All of these instructions made Sarah squeamish. The breaking point for Sarah was the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case, when the administration lied about the circumstances surrounding Abrego Garcia's deportation in intentional defiance of the law and court order. Sarah's gut was telling her "Danger! Danger! Danger!"Sarah worried about DOJ taking advantage of how immigration courts are set up. With immigration courts being administrative courts and part of the DOJ, the Attorney General can pull a case and issue a ruling which then becomes binding case law. The Board of Immigration Appeals reports to the Attorney General, who reports to the President. The AG can control what immigration courts do, and the AG is currently pushing the bounds of what is constitutionally allowable. Sarah wondered at what point she would be asked or instructed to do something illegal.When the second Deferred Resignation Program offer came around, Sarah knew she had to take it. She could no longer keep her head down and hope for the best. She saw the administration lie and intentionally defy court orders. Sarah refused to be a part of that. Since leaving her dream job, Sarah has opened her own private practice, Ellison Hernandez, PLLC, in Midlothian, Texas, providing consultation services and litigation support for other attorneys and law firms. Sarah is using her 15 years of state, federal, and immigration court experience to give insight and assist other attorneys and law firms in advocating for their clients. She is licensed to practice law in Texas and supports clients nationwide via her virtual platform.Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn.For more information about this episode, visit our ⁠website⁠.If you enjoy Forking Off with us, consider supporting us on ⁠⁠Ko-fi⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠follow us⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, or wherever you get your podcasts.----------The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the individuals providing them and do not necessarily represent the views of the FBI, the DOJ, the United States, or any past or current employers.

Andrew Kreider is a 10th-generation Pennsylvanian and first-generation college graduate. As a high schooler in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, he wanted to help save the planet. So, he set up a recycling center in his parent's newly built mud room and begged his mom to take him to the large recycling center for drop offs on the weekends.Andrew's strong environmental ethic led to a 29-year career at the Environmental Protection Agency, much of which he spent at the EPA's Region 3 Office in Philadelphia. He managed the Brownfields Project for seven years, creating opportunities for economic growth across the Mid-Atlantic region. During his tenure, the program funded grants that provided jobs for communities, such as Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he got to help the town revitalize and restore Roberto Clemente Park.For the last few years, Andrew served as a Senior Government and Public Affairs Liaison and as Communications Director. Andrew coordinated relationships with US Senate and House offices and was the first point of contact for elected officials seeking assistance from the EPA. In January of 2025, Andrew had no plans to retire. He had served under six administrations and five different presidents. Presidential transitions did not normally affect the day to day operations at the EPA, but the second Trump administration was different. The administration terminated grants and violated union contracts. Employees were sent home on administrative leave, then asked to return to the office, then fired, and then un-fired. EPA employees were told not to answer grant recipients' questions about their grants and funding. With hundreds of organizations relying on grant funding which had been pulled without notice, members of Congress contacted EPA to find out what was going on. Andrew was instructed to stonewall Congress members and tell them that everything was "normal." Andrew refused to lie.While on annual leave in March, Andrew participated in the American Federation of Government Employees' EPA Solidarity Walk in Philadelphia to protest the administration's attacks on the EPA workforce. The Philadelphia Inquirer photographed and interviewed Andrew. The next day the EPA's new Administrator saw the article and Andrew's photograph. The new Administrator singled Andrew out and told top EPA officials that Andrew was the kind of employee who made his job more difficult. Ten days later, Andrew was removed from his position and was no longer able to interact with the public or members of Congress.Andrew had a choice to make. Keep his job or his voice? Andrew chose to keep his voice and to use his freedom of speech to speak out about matters of public concern, such as the destruction of the EPA and civil service jobs. Andrew took the second Deferred Resignation Program offer and left EPA in June. Andrew is remaining hopeful for our country and emphasized, "Hope is not a feeling. It is a choice, and it is a choice that demands action."These days you can find Andrew in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where he is the Director of Communications for Chester County. Connect with him on LinkedIn.For more information about this episode, visit our website.If you enjoy Forking Off with us, consider supporting us on ⁠Ko-fi⁠, and ⁠follow us⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, or wherever you get your podcasts.----------The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the individuals providing them and do not necessarily represent the views of the FBI, the DOJ, the EPA, the United States, or any past or current employers.

When Molly Kocialski became the Director of the Rocky Mountain Regional US Patent and Trademark Office, she traded the wealth of 20 years of private practice for the stability and flexibility of federal employment. In September 2025, that balance shifted, and Molly left her job of ten years with the USPTO.At 12:04 am Eastern Time on October 1st, just minutes into what would become the longest government shutdown in history, the USPTO announced the closure of the Rocky Mountain Regional Office and a reduction-in-force targeting approximately 200 employees. Molly was the Rocky Mountain office's second—and last—regional director.A 2019 study determined intellectual property directly supported $7.8 trillion in US GDP and over 44 million American jobs. As an educator and public liaison, Molly made sure the public got its money's worth out of the nation's only fully fee-funded agency. Molly traveled over a dozen times a year throughout her office's nine-state region, meeting with everyone from farmers to semiconductor manufacturers to ensure they knew how the USPTO could help them protect their intellectual property.As an administrator, Molly cared deeply for her people. You can hear this as she poignantly discusses how they were undermined by policy changes since January. From contract reductions to travel bans, it became nearly impossible to do the necessary work of the USPTO. After the February return-to-office mandate, Molly started "snacks and support" because the office's food services had ceased during COVID, and her team's fast pace of virtual meetings with the public didn't leave time for people to go out for lunch. Even after her departure, she spent the early hours of October 1st consoling former employees and colleagues who had abruptly lost their jobs.Molly is continuing her commitment to service in private practice where she's helping inventors navigate the constant series of changes at the USPTO. When she's not busy at the office, Molly can be found lovingly serving bagels at her son's football practice, which you may hear echoes of in this episode. 🏈In this episode, Molly highlights numerous changes at the USPTO that raise concerns about the agency's ability to continue issuing patents every Tuesday, as it has like clockwork since the 1800s. In that spirit, we've created a small project to monitor whether patents are issued on time. We hope you'll check it out on our website from time-to-time to see how things are going, or learn how to implement it yourself on our GitHub.Connect with Molly on LinkedIn or find her at Holland & Hart.For more information about this episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠visit our website⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you enjoy Forking Off with us, consider supporting us on ⁠⁠Ko-fi⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠follow us⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, or wherever you get your podcasts.----------The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the individuals providing them and do not necessarily represent the views of the FBI, the DOJ, the USPTO, the United States, or any past or current employers.