We Are Feds For Freedom
Like You, We're Patriots.
We love America and our freedom. But the COVID-19 vaccine mandate was a step too far. It sparked something in us - a new fight for liberty our Founding Fathers would recognize.
That spark created Feds For Freedom, a grassroots movement of federal employees, contractors, and military personnel pushing back against government overreach.
Born In a Moment of Uncertainty
In September 2021, a wave of concern was sweeping through the federal workforce. The COVID-19 vaccine mandate wasn’t just a policy; it was an infringement on our individual rights and it threatened the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
Although natural immunity and alternative treatments were available, a novel gene therapy, the long-term effects of which were still being studied, was promoted as the only solution to managing the virus.
Uncertainty Met With Courage
At great risk to themselves, a small group of federal employees, Feds for Medical Freedom, bravely stood up to fight against the mandate.
They challenged the mandate in court, ultimately securing a landmark injunction that protected over 400,000 people from being forced to get the jab or lose their job.
A Battle Won, A War Continues
This victory wasn't the end. Feds For Medical Freedom pressed on, battling discrimination and censorship, navigating complex systems to support those treated unjustly.
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Recognizing that freedom extends beyond medical mandates, we dropped "Medical" from our name, expanding our mission to fight all unconstitutional government overreach.
Feds For Freedom Leadership
STEPHANIE WEIDLE
Executive Director, Podcast Host
​Wife to a DOW civilian and mother of three, Stephanie brings a personal perspective to her work advocating for federal employees, contractors, and families affected by government overreach.
She holds a Master's degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, where she cultivated her skills in performance and communication, performing on opera stages and later teaching voice and piano at local studios.
Her transition to full-time homeschooling her children, combined with firsthand experience observing her firstborn's adverse reaction to childhood vaccines—and the subsequent hostility encountered when seeking answers—ignited a deep commitment to questioning prevailing health narratives and defending bodily autonomy.
JIM ERDMAN
Co-Founder & Board Member
Jim Erdman is the co-founder Feds for Freedom and is a former non-commissioned officer at the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger regimen and subsequently served in the National Guard.
He worked as a Senior bioinformatics and biometrics consultant in the private sector. Jim served in the Middle East, South and East Asia, and Europe.
He speaks fluent Mandarin and Arabic, and earned the Director of National Intelligence Award.
KEVIN MCAFEE
President
Kevin served in the US Army for 21 years. That time was split across all three components; Active Duty, Army Reserves, and the California Army National Guard.
After retirement from military service, he spent time pursuing career options while simultaneously growing the family real estate business.
Kevin started federal service in 2016, becoming a Department of the Army Civilian. His work as a DA Civilian has included installation physical security, positions in the training and readiness field, and program management.
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MARCUS THORNTON
Co-Founder & Board Member
Marcus Thornton has been a Diplomat with the Department of State since 2016. He previously served as a Border Patrol agent and in other capacities with the Department of Homeland Security from 2007 to 2016.
Marcus has over 1000 mission-flight hours as a crewmember with DHS and as a Major in the United States Air Force Auxiliary. He speaks three foreign languages and including two critical-needs languages.
Marcus is the recipient of three Meritorious Honor Awards for his recent work defending human rights, rescuing victims of human trafficking and religious persecution, and advancing national security issues.
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​​Marcus served as the Feds For Freedom President from 2021-2025.
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OLIVIA DEGENKOLB
Vice President
Olivia Degenkolb is a retired U.S. Navy Commander with experience in nuclear power, aviation, and international relations. She lost her position as the Assistant Naval Attaché (designate) to China after expressing concerns about the COVID-19 shot, and later experienced significant whistleblower retaliation after notifying senior military leadership, and later Congress, of illegal COVID policies.
Liv discovered Feds For Freedom through a presentation offered to support those filing Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaints. The presentation provided perspectives she used in her own EEO filing and in assisting others who were fighting COVID-related mandates. As a result, Liv joined the organization and has actively participated in efforts to educate and advocate for individual liberties and responsibilities.
Liv is a wife and a new homeschooling mom and homesteader.
CAROLYN ROCCO
Secretary
Carolyn Rocco is an active-duty Air Force officer with over 21 years of enlisted and officer service and a proud signatory of the Declaration of Military Accountability.
Carolyn spent the last four years educating peers and superiors of the laws and policies overtly ignored during the Covid vaccine mandate. She has been a champion
of the efforts to restore institutional trust and morale and has played a critical role within Feds For Freedom.
Most recently, Carolyn received America's Future "Defender of Freedom" Award, at Mar-a-Lago, recognizing her commitment to American Exceptionalism.
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MAY C.
Board Member
May's federal government background includes working on health and medical expenditures programs at the Department of Health and Human Services, with the U.S. Customs Service and the Department of the Treasury on matters of U.S. trade, and on demographic studies for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
May has long observed tensions in the symbiotic associations between the public sector and private industries, from one administration to the next. Policy and politics often overlap, where conflicts of interest can compromise public trust. When the narratives are manipulated to affect the control of information, truth can become disposable.
Foremost, May is a concerned parent with children whose health has been adversely impacted by vaccines. Along her journey of looking for solutions for their special needs, and with the impedance of the federal workers mandate, she met F4F. The F4F mission represents everyone in one way or another, and that’s why they are worthy of support.
RON SEVERSON
Board Member
Ron supports our Navy, having provided installation guidance and readiness to surface ships in multiple locations through his work within NAVSEA since 2008.
He has supported modernization of ships, including cruisers, destroyers, carriers, and amphibs, to enable them with capabilities to help our Fleet to cooperatively work as a single distributed fighting force.
Ron holds a Bachelor's Degree in Physics from Fresno State, where he studied the immutable laws of nature and the mathematical relationships of our Creator's design. He holds interests in aviation, censorship resistant networks, and being free to choose.
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