The term Trump Derangement Syndrome started as a joke. But the reality is even scarier than anyone thought.
Now Democrats are literally going crazy over Donald Trump: psychologist.
The Trump administration’s bold reforms are shaking up Washington, and not everyone is happy about it. Some groups—especially those tied to bloated federal programs—are worried that their jobs could be next on the chopping block as the administration takes aim at wasteful spending. According to one Georgetown University psychology professor, these changes are even driving some people to therapy.
“I’m getting an increased amount of inquiries from people who are just feeling very anxious in general, and it’s exacerbated by the state of the country,” Dr. Andrea Bonior told Fox News Digital.
Bonior says her clients—many of whom are federal workers, humanitarians, and academics—are feeling the heat as billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk leads the charge to clean up Washington’s excess. Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting efforts, part of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), are focusing on trimming federal jobs, grants, and wasteful programs. Unsurprisingly, many of her worried patients hail from the D.C. area, where she balances her Georgetown teaching duties with a part-time private practice.
According to Bonior, the fear is most pronounced among those with ties to the federal government or federally funded projects.
“I’ve had some clients who were technically probationary workers because they had gotten promotions, so they had been longtime civil servants, public servants, but they were treated like someone who was just coming out of college and getting their first job because they were probationary,” she shared.
“They were probationary because they were in a new position, having been promoted for having done such a great job.”
DOGE, established during the beginning of President Trump’s second term, was created to root out waste, fraud, and abuse while streamlining government operations. With a planned dissolution date of July 4, 2026, its mission is clear: cut the fat and return power to the people.
Trump has praised Musk’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the cause. In a “Sunday Morning Futures” exclusive interview over the weekend, Trump called Musk a “real patriot” for “opening a lot of eyes” to the outrageous spending habits that DOGE is exposing. The President has made it clear to his cabinet that cooperation with DOGE is non-negotiable, urging agency heads to use a “scalpel” when deciding which jobs to keep.
Yet, as Washington insiders scramble to protect their interests, Bonior claims the effects of DOGE’s reforms are rippling through sectors with humanitarian and nonprofit ties.
Researchers and scientists in higher education are also feeling the pinch, Bonior says, especially those reliant on federal grants. Veterans working for the government—a significant group—are likewise facing uncertainty due to the budget cuts.
But it’s not just Washington elites who are worried. Bonior says her telehealth practice, which spans multiple states, is flooded with messages from people expressing concerns about financial security and broader economic uncertainty.
“I think there’s a larger concern that goes beyond policy, and I’m actually, in the past couple of days, hearing from a lot of people who are just concerned about financial insecurity and concerned about the just destabilization of even the stock markets and even people who consider themselves to be not having anything to do with this,” she said, adding, “I think there’s just a larger concern that the whole tone of this administration feels different.”
However, as Trump’s agenda disrupts the status quo, it’s clear many of those complaining are the very same people who benefited from years of unchecked government largesse. Bonior even admitted to Axios that more and more disillusioned Democrats are seeking help as they wrestle with “burnout, guilt, and despair” over the loss of their old way of life.
Interestingly, Bonior acknowledged that dissatisfaction isn’t limited to one political party. Some Republicans working in federal positions worry about cuts to research funding, while others—such as conservative Christians—are uneasy about reductions in humanitarian aid.
“Contrary to maybe popular belief, there are plenty of Republicans that work in the federal government that are being directly affected. There are plenty of Republicans who care immensely about scientific research and solving medical problems that face this country, and cancer research and Alzheimer’s research and research on childhood disorders… there are lots of conservative Christians who really are concerned with the humanitarian aid cuts and… I think that’s where it really goes to an issue that’s no longer a political issue. I think there are a lot of people who feel that this is a moral issue,” she said.
Still, some of those now feeling the squeeze were once Trump supporters themselves.
“I’ve heard from several folks that have said… ‘I admit this [DOGE] sounded good in theory. Maybe I even voted for Trump, but now I’m feeling completely abandoned because my job is on the chopping block,’” Bonior added.
When Fox News Digital reached out to the White House, Principal Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields didn’t mince words, defending the President’s commitment to fixing a broken system.
“President Trump returned to Washington with a mandate from the American people to bring about unprecedented change in our federal government to uproot waste, fraud, and abuse. This isn’t easy to do in a broken system entrenched in bureaucracy and bloat, but it’s a task long overdue. The personal financial situation of every American is top of mind for the President, which is why he’s working to cut regulations, reshore jobs, lower taxes, and make government more efficient,” Fields said.
Despite the noise from Washington’s entrenched bureaucracy, one thing is clear: Trump isn’t backing down. With Musk leading the charge at DOGE, the administration is delivering on its promise to dismantle the swamp—one wasteful program at a time.
