Exodus of Federal Workers: Job Security Concerns Post-Trump's Policies

As the federal landscape shifts, former employees reflect on the implications of recent administrative changes on their careers and morale. Liz Goggin, once a clinical social worker with the Veterans Health Administration, recently recounted her transition into the private sector, revealing the challenges faced by many federal workers amidst an evolving political climate.

Personal Accounts Amidst Mass Departures

Goggin's journey began when she was unable to accept the "Fork in the Road" buyout offer, leaving her to navigate a workforce increasingly fraught with uncertainty. By the end of 2025, the Office of Personnel Management projects a staggering 317,000 federal employees may depart their roles—whether through firings, resignations, or retirements—stemming largely from an atmosphere steeped in job insecurity. Goggin noted, "Things felt really hard," citing heightened demands and mandates that escalated employee dissatisfaction.

The low morale among workers was particularly acute, exacerbated by directives to report any perceived biases against Christian values, which Goggin asserted were absent in her experiences at the VA.

Goggin described morale at the VA as "very low" before she left her job.

Impact of Administrative Directives

Changes instituted during Trump’s administration, specifically targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, have contributed to the upheaval in the federal workforce. Mahri Stainnak, formerly part of the Office of Personnel Management’s DEI office, was notably affected. After being placed on leave and subsequently dismissed, Stainnak described their role focused on fostering diverse backgrounds within the federal workforce.

Currently involved in a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration, Stainnak claims that the termination of DEI employees—many of whom belong to marginalized communities—was influenced by political ideology as well as advocacy for equity and inclusion.

Reactions to the Changes in Federal Employment

Trump's campaign to eradicate inefficiencies within the federal workforce has incited a spectrum of responses. Proponents argue these measures aim to streamline government operations, while opponents contend that they jeopardize vital government functionality. Max Stier, president of the Partnership for Public Service, cautioned against these developments, suggesting they could lead to a restoration of pre-1900s patronage systems.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/53cc408/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4001x3001+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnpr.brightspotcdn.com%2Fdims3%2Fdefault%2Fstrip%2Ffalse%2Fcrop%2F4001x3001%20249%200%2Fresize%2F4001x3001%21%2F%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F52%2F72%2F4f3a11264c8a83d5516dc1e03544%2F20251211-npr-maxstier-large-0034.JPG" alt="Max Stier,