What challenges did Justine Ballou face as a federal worker when she was laid off?

Justine Ballou, who worked for the Department of Agriculture, experienced a devastating layoff just three days before her due date. She received a termination letter on a Friday and gave birth the following day, leaving her in a precarious situation at a critical life moment. The termination created severe consequences for Ballou, as her paid maternity leave was completely eliminated and her health insurance was set to lapse at the end of the month. This timing created a perfect storm of hardship, leaving her without essential benefits precisely when she needed them most for her newborn child.