Liz Goggin recently had an encounter that brought back memories of her time as a federal worker. While out for ice cream with her kids, she met a veteran selling balloons. He shared his struggles with housing and health issues, including mental health challenges. In her previous role with the Veterans Health Administration, she would have been able to help him directly. But now, having resigned in June after facing job uncertainties, she felt helpless.
“I had this real feeling of sadness,” Goggin admitted, reflecting on her past work with veterans.
The federal workforce has seen significant changes recently, with over 317,000 employees expected to leave by the end of 2025. Many left due to firings or retirement, often out of fear for job security. The tumult began when President Trump returned to office, leading to a series of firings and buyouts within the government.
Goggin described how morale had plummeted, with new demands imposed on employees that felt out of touch with their work. “Things felt really hard,” she noted, highlighting the pressure of reporting weekly accomplishments and mandatory directives that felt irrelevant or unnecessary.
### Mass Exodus and Job Market Struggles
Other federal employees faced similar fates. Mahri Stainnak, who worked with the Office of Personnel Management, was let go just after Trump’s inauguration. Stainnak’s work focused on diversity and inclusion, connecting underrepresented groups to federal careers. They now struggle to find a stable job.
“It’s an incredibly difficult job market right now,” Stainnak explained, noting the pressure of each job application.
According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, over half of employees in similar roles reported feeling uncertain about their job security due to political changes.
### The Broader Impact
Experts like Max Stier from the Partnership for Public Service see these trends as a potential return to a patronage system. “It’s been 140 years since our country had something remotely close to this experience,” he warned.
Stier believes that while some initiatives might improve government efficiency, they do not outweigh the significant destruction caused by these political shifts. “If they figure out a way to better paint one of the rooms, that’s great, but burning the house down is so overwhelming,” he pointed out.
### A Mixed Future
Goggin has transitioned to private practice, finding success as a therapist. She enjoys the flexibility but still misses the intensity of her work with veterans. Despite her current satisfaction, she occasionally checks USAJobs, hoping to someday return to her roots.
Murphy, also hoping to find her way back to a government role, echoes this sentiment: “It’s crazy. I would love to…but just not under this administration.”
Overall, these stories highlight the profound impact political shifts can have on federal employees, both on their careers and their sense of purpose. Each person’s journey reflects a landscape where the once-stable path of public service is now filled with uncertainty and change.
Source link
