Hi, my name is Claire. I’m a constituent of Ayanna Pressley’s and I’m one of thousands of other federal workers who were terminated for no legitimate reason by Trump and Elon Musk.

As a federal worker with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, I swore an oath to serve the American people and fight for our right to access fair housing without fear of discrimination or harassment. As someone who uses a wheelchair, I know what it’s like to have to fight for reasonable accommodations. That’s why I feel so strongly about this work.

Supporting our communities is a duty, a privilege, and a necessity — not a waste of government resources.

Because of this administration’s callous disregard for working people, my work will remain unfinished. More people who need housing will not get it. More people will face discrimination and harassment in housing applications. I’m still fighting to get my job back — because I’ve got so much work left and there are people in my city of Everett who need accessible housing.

Ayanna gets it. She’s amplifying my story and the stories of thousands of federal workers like me who have not only lost our livelihoods, but also the ability to serve the country and communities we love so much. She fights for workers’ justice, housing justice, and disability justice. She fights for the people. She’s a testament to our nation’s strongest people and the best of our nation carries on because of her.

While Donald Trump and Elon Musk may have ended my service, they will never put an end to my fight. I’m still here — in solidarity with my former colleagues and with current federal workers who fear what’s next. Vulnerable communities in Massachusetts need accessible housing, including those living with disabilities, like me. I’m not giving up the fight.

I am proud to fight with Ayanna as we do the work to make a better future for everyone in Massachusetts and across the country. We spoke side by side in solidarity at a federal workers rally. She invited me to Trump’s joint address to Congress to represent federal workers unjustly treated by this administration. She led 85 lawmakers urging the Office of Special Counsel to immediately reinstate and expand protections for all unfairly fired workers.

Meeting with Ayanna and fighting alongside her will always have a profound impact on me, the girl from Everett. I am Claire in the wheelchair, the girl who needed to be reminded of what real leadership looks like. Ayanna modeled leadership for me and now I'm joining the fight.

We’re using every tool we have to resist. For federal workers. For the people who rely on the essential services that our government provides. For the people who need accessible housing. For everyone.

In solidarity,

Claire Bergstresser