The past year has been tough for many federal workers, especially for Ashley Garley. Once a contractor and malaria expert with USAID, Ashley lost her job due to sweeping cuts in the federal workforce. These changes started after Donald Trump took office again in January 2025. With the US halting foreign aid, she found herself searching for a full-time job with benefits—but it’s been over a year, and that hasn’t happened yet. To make ends meet, Ashley went back to a job she had as a swim instructor, a far cry from her previous high-impact role.
Ashley expressed, “My world has gotten very small, very quickly.” This sentiment resonates with many who are facing similar struggles.
Since January 2025, more than 350,000 federal employees have left their jobs, according to the Office of Personnel Management. The workforce shrank by over 10%, leaving nearly 2.1 million federal civilian employees behind. Former President Trump doesn’t seem concerned, stating many are now earning more in the private sector—though that hasn’t been the experience for everyone. Many have faced hardships in securing stable jobs, while others have started new projects, moved for job offers, or turned to volunteer work.
Take Morgan Hall, for example. A former analyst at the CDC, she faced severe emotional struggles after losing her job, even landing in the hospital due to stress. Like many, she took on temporary roles to make ends meet but found herself unable to keep up with her bills, which included about $57,000 in hospital costs.
Morgan’s story is just one among many. Casey Hollowell, who also lost his job at the USDA, began applying for as many as 30 jobs a day, even looking for positions outside his preferred field. After a long search, he finally landed a data analyst role, marking a major shift in his career path.
In this job market, shareable experiences on social media reflect a broader trend. Many in the federal workforce have expressed their frustrations and tales of resilience online. For instance, ongoing discussions on platforms like Twitter highlight the challenges faced by those affected by workforce reductions.
Data from CivicMatch shows that some former federal workers found new opportunities at local and state governments, with around 33% making moves to new states. A few even relocated cross-country, showing the upheaval these layoffs have caused.
In this challenging environment, some former workers have even turned to new careers entirely. For instances, Nathan Karrel transitioned to a new role in Tucson, finding unexpected joy in the local culture, despite leaving his original career path behind.
Meanwhile, others, like Julianne Weis, have become advocates, focusing on restoring foreign aid funding. She co-founded Aid on the Hill, a volunteer organization stressing the importance of these services.
The experiences of these individuals reflect a wider narrative—full of struggles, but also resilience and adaptability.
For further insights into the changes in federal staffing and its broader implications, you can refer to the Office of Personnel Management.
