Olivia Troye was the voice of the night at Elizabethtown College’s second hosting of its 2023-2024 Lecture Series: Evenings of Enlightenment in Leffler Chapel at 7 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2024. As a former homeland security and counterterrorism advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, Troye took the world by storm when she accused President Trump’s Administration of failing to protect the American people during the coronavirus pandemic. Many called Troye a “White House Coronavirus Task Force Whistleblower” in her efforts to make an ethical and moral choice based on years of national security work.
The program was sectioned into three parts: an introduction of the speaker, Troye’s presentation “Doing the Right Thing. Even When It Costs Everything” and a Q&A with Troye. The lecture moderator, Ryan Unger ‘01, is an Etown graduate. He is the president of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. Troye spoke to both Etown students and members of the Etown community as she recounted her story. She walked the audience through a timeline of her life, starting with a humble beginning, and ending with headlining on CNN speaking out against the Trump administration policies on COVID-19. In her own words, Troye started from the “corridors of power [White House] to crossroads of where conscience and duty intersect.” Troye started her career in legislative politics and changed course after the September 9, 2011, terrorist attack to be in the public service sector with an emphasis on service and helping others. Troye’s focus shifted to domestic threats including rising hate crimes and cybersecurity threats. Her move to the White House came when she was selected to be Vice President Pence’s homeland security advisor. Her role in the White House in the wake of the pandemic enabled her to be placed on a COVID-19 task force.
The decision to speak out against the Trump administration was strictly a moral decision to Troye. This was an unprecedented decision for her, which she did not take lightly, and which she said came with no ulterior motive. Troye spoke of the courage it took for her to stand up for what she believed to be right, and acknowledged many people who had been courageous before her. The inclusion of a section pertaining to courage within Troye’s speech emphasizes the impact whistleblowers can make on a large scale. “Groups which face extreme adversity but risk their lives for greater cause and to serve others are courageous and worthy of recognition,” she said. The implications of Troye speaking out against a powerful political figurehead exceeded her workplace resignation. She was scrutinized by the public, her life was threatened, and she permanently dented her professional career. And yet, Troye sticks by her decision and says it was for the benefit of the American people.
The CNN headlines featuring Troye wrote, “Trump could have saved lives but was too concerned about re-election.” Troye was originally planning to leave her career and move on with her life but says her loyalty to the American people persuaded her to make the decision which changed the direction of her life. Troye is now an advisor for Defending Democracy Together and continues to fight for the American people’s safety.
Audience members were encouraged to send their questions for Troye via a text message thread. The Q&A portion at the end of the lecture allowed Troye to expand on some of her points and address audience questions. One of the audience members, an Etown student, said, “It was nice to hear her opinion knowing she was with the Republican Party and still decided to speak out against their policies.” Troye was able to embrace fear as a driving force in making decisions that matter. Troye did not let fear, politics or popular opinion prevent her from protecting the American people from what she deemed a harmful institution.
