Latest news with #Wollenberg
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Laid-off Iowa military vet says DOGE job cuts are ‘just the start' — and pain will be felt 'in corporations as well'
As Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues cutting federal jobs, concerns are growing about the broader economic impact. Terri Wollenberg, a 30-year military veteran, was hired to help fellow veterans at the Iowa City VA, reports ABC's KCRG-TV. However, she's now out of a job due to DOGE layoffs, which have included thousands of probationary government employees like her. Wollenberg fears these cuts will extend beyond government agencies and into the private sector, further destabilizing the job market. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Home prices in America could fly through the roof in 2025 — here's the big reason why and how to take full advantage (with as little as $10) Americans with upside-down car loans owe more money than ever before — and drivers can't keep up. Here are 3 ways to cut your monthly costs ASAP 'The second or third order effects of what is happening in the government will happen in corporations as well, and Americans are gonna feel it.' Wollenberg told KCRG. Wollenberg served in the military for 30 years before taking a role at the Iowa City VA. She was still a probationary worker, meaning she was still in her two years of a new role. The term probationary worker can refer to recent federal hires, but it also includes seasoned employees who recently switched positions. Wollenberg says she was abruptly laid off and received an email citing 'poor performance.' She is now worried not just about herself, but also about the veterans she served and the economy as a whole. 'There is no one now to meet our clients at the door, there's no one to confirm schedules, no one to help and assist with our counselors,' she said. While there is no official count on how many federal workers have been laid off, The Associated Press reports that data from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which serves as the human resources arm of the federal government, shows 220,000 federal employees had less than a year on the job as of March 2024 — leaving them vulnerable to termination. The Trump administration has indicated that deeper staffing and spending cuts could follow, leading many to be concerned about how the layoffs could impact the broader economy. However, economists say these layoffs alone are unlikely to trigger a recession on their own. 'It puts the variable of uncertainty into the equation. And uncertainty is really bad for the economy and for labor markets, because uncertainty means everybody pauses,' said Ron Hetrick, senior labor economist at Lightcast, in an interview with CNN. 'That's what the biggest (economic) risk is in the short run right now.' Stephanie Roth, chief economist at Wolfe Research, echoes Hetrick's thoughts. 'It's not going to tip the economy into recession by itself,' she told CNN. Read more: Jamie Dimon issues a warning about the US stock market — says prices are 'kind of inflated.' Crashproof your portfolio with these 3 rock-solid strategies While these federal layoffs may not directly cause a recession, they can create ripple effects that affect everyday Americans in several ways. The sudden influx of laid-off federal workers means more competition for open positions, especially in fields like contracting, health care and administration — industries that closely interact with government agencies. If you work in an industry that does, you may see an increase in job applicants, making it harder to land a role. These layoffs come as private sector job cuts are already rising. More than 19,000 jobs have been lost in the tech sector in 2025, according to Companies like HP, Grubhub, eBay, Meta and Expedia have all reported workforce reductions in recent months. When workers are laid off, they generally cut back on spending — whether that's dining out, home renovations or major purchases like cars and appliances. That decline in consumer spending can slow economic growth and impact business growth. A reduction in spending may be felt even more keenly due to boycotts, as Americans push back against policies with their wallets. Companies like Target and Walmart are already seeing a decline in traffic and sales — though it's unclear if the dips are due to boycotts, layoffs or inflation. One of the most significant risks isn't the layoffs themselves — it's the uncertainty they create. When businesses and consumers feel unsure about the stability of the economy, we can see things like delayed hiring, postponed investment and cuts to discretionary spending. In the stock market, investors react strongly to labor market trends. Layoffs, especially in government or major industries like tech, can create what experts call "market jitters" — fluctuations in stock prices based on anxiety and fear. The layoffs in the federal workforce won't single-handedly push the U.S. into a recession, but they do add stress to an already uncertain economy. For workers outside of government, this could mean longer job searches, increased competition and general economic uncertainty. For now, economists remain cautious but not alarmed. However, if consumer confidence drops further and layoffs continue, the economic picture could become more unstable in the months ahead. Jamie Dimon issues a warning about the US stock market — says prices are 'kind of inflated.' Crashproof your portfolio with these 3 rock-solid strategies 'I like this stuff': Self-made $500M mogul and YouTuber reveals his 'essential' US portfolio that he says Amazon 'can't hurt' — here's his secret formula and how you can copy it in 2025 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Discovery World's Girls & STEM inspires girls to pursue science
The Brief Discovery World in Milwaukee hosted Girls & STEM on Saturday. The female-focused day is designed to inspire girls and ignite success. Data from M.I.T. shows women make up roughly 28% of the STEM workforce. MILWAUKEE - Today they're girls, but in the future they could be rocket scientists, mechanical engineers – even TV meteorologists. On Sunday, Discovery World hosted a female-focused day designed to ignite success. What they're saying A love for math meant the annual Girls & STEM event at Discovery World was the perfect place for Victoria Manger. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "Honestly, I've really been enjoying geometry this year," she said. "There's so many different ways we can teach girls, and girls can learn STEM, other than reading a book," said Meghan Langmyer with Discovery World. "When you're hands-on with something, it's almost like an alternative learning method." Langmyer helped organize the day packed with coding activities, robotics and more. There were even big bubbles to explain surface tension. "I hope, if anything, they become curious, and they become confident in their curiosity, so they want to discover more," Langmyer added. What they're saying Face-to-face exposure is clearly influential. "I love having a role model to look up to," said Manger. "It's like, 'Oh, I can take this right here, and I can probably get to where you are today.'" FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Despite progress and growing interest over the last decade, women remain underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering and mathematic fields. Data from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows women make up roughly 28% of the STEM workforce. "I can walk up and down the street and see construction equipment and parts that my valves and things that I've made are on," said Kim Wollenberg. "It's really cool to see how what I do and what I make applies in the real world." Wollenberg is an engineer who works on big mechanical projects. She's simplified her work for young minds. "We teach them specifically about hydraulics, also parts and assembly, and we get them excited," Wollenberg added. Girls were the focus of the educational day, but there was a lesson for everyone. "Boys can learn a little bit of everything. They can learn their mom has power. They can learn the engineering field is fun, and it's for everyone," said Langmyer. The Source FOX6 News went to the Girls & STEM event at Discovery World and talked to some of the organizers and attendees. Data was also provided by M.I.T.
