A year after DOGE, former federal employees are still looking for work

Key Points:

• John Burg, laid off from USAID in January 2025 after decades of service, has returned to carpentry, earning only 15% of his previous salary and feeling more connected locally but financially strained.
• Over 300,000 federal workers and contractors were laid off due to Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts, with many struggling to find new employment; only 25-50% of former federal workers have secured jobs according to support organizations.
• Former federal employees report challenges translating public sector skills to the private sector, facing stigma, long-term unemployment, and difficulties accessing healthcare and housing.
• Mental health issues are prevalent among the unemployed, with many expressing a loss of professional identity and purpose after losing mission-driven public service jobs.
• Some laid-off workers have had to relocate or accept significantly lower-paying jobs, while others face gaps in health coverage and increased financial insecurity despite community support and ongoing government efficiency debates.