When the Work Stops But the Bills Don’t

I’ve spent the past decade building my career as a consultant in international development communications, with my work fully dedicated to USAID-funded projects. When the Stop Work Order (SWO) hit, my entire workload vanished overnight. But what’s even harder is the mountain of unpaid invoices—for work completed as far back as October 2024—that remain in limbo.

As an independent contractor, I don’t qualify for unemployment benefits. My family’s savings are quickly draining as we try to navigate this uncertainty. I’m the primary breadwinner while my husband works to grow our small business, and we’re raising our 18-month-old daughter. The financial strain is real, and the frustration is overwhelming.

I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to the incredible folks in the finance departments of the companies I have worked with. They are working tirelessly on shoestring teams, doing their best to collaborate with USAID to get us paid and keeping us updated with whatever information they can share. Their efforts are a bright spot in this difficult time.

At the end of the day, my bills are still due—but my own government isn’t paying theirs. This isn’t just business; it’s survival.

Learn more about how you can help here.