Not-So-D.C. jobs: Meet the former contractor who now owns a historic B&B

• Previously in Vienna, Virginia, she now lives in the Dupont Circle property with her husband and young children.

What she's saying: While Traylor's plan was in motion prior to the Department of Governmental Efficiency dismantling of USAID, she says it's been difficult to watch former co-workers and friends lose their jobs.

• "I'm trying to do whatever I can to help," says Traylor, who plans to have now-unemployed friends come and pitch in at the B&B.

Zoom in: The hospitality learning curve has been "steep," but Traylor says her contracting background taught her how to think on her feet — a must when running a hotel.

• Her shift is already acting as a guiding light for former co-workers, she says: "People [are] sharing that they're inspired to think outside the box [regarding] what their next step is going to be," Traylor tells Axios.
• "It's providing a little bit of a reprieve from the negativity and the kind of dreariness that most people in the sector are experiencing."

State of play: Traylor's keeping much of the 10-bedroom property, originally built around 1883, mainly the same.

• But the previous owners weren't locally based, and she says she's excited to bring local flavor to the historic site. "It's the right time for someone who does know D.C. to come and have a really communally led approach."

And so far, business has been good: They had a full house during the inauguration.