Recently, Liz Goggin had a poignant experience that brought back memories of her time as a dedicated federal employee. While out enjoying ice cream with her children, she stopped to engage with a man selling balloons. This man, a veteran, shared that he was grappling with housing issues and serious health problems, including psychological challenges. In her previous role at the Veterans Health Administration, where she worked for a decade as a clinical social worker, Goggin would have known exactly how to assist him by connecting him with essential veterans' services. However, having left her position in June after not receiving the Fork in the Road buyout offer, she realized that she could no longer help in the same capacity. She offered the veteran some advice on how to navigate the Veterans Affairs system, feeling a deep sense of sadness as she did so.
Just one year ago, being a federal employee represented job security, solid benefits, and the honor of serving the American public. However, the landscape dramatically shifted in January when President Trump returned to the White House, leading to a wave of firings, buyout offers, and growing uncertainty within the federal workforce. According to the Office of Personnel Management, by the end of 2025, an estimated 317,000 federal employees will have left their positions. This figure includes tens of thousands who were outright fired, while many others chose to retire or resign out of fear for their job security. For employees like Goggin, the working environment became increasingly untenable.
Goggin described how new demands were imposed without warning, such as mandates requiring employees to submit weekly reports detailing their accomplishments and directives to report any perceived anti-Christian bias among colleagues. She noted that during her extensive tenure at the VA, she had never encountered such bias, emphasizing the unnecessary stress these new requirements created. Additionally, the Trump administration's crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives left her and her colleagues feeling uncertain about acceptable discussions within the workplace, which contributed to a significant decline in morale.
For some federal employees, leaving their positions was not a matter of choice. Shortly after his inauguration, President Trump signed an executive order targeting DEI efforts throughout the federal government, labeling them as illegal and immoral. Mahri Stainnak, a former employee in Maine, was placed on leave the very next day and subsequently terminated. Stainnak's work involved introducing diverse candidates—especially veterans and individuals with disabilities—to opportunities within the federal workforce. Today, they struggle to find stable employment in a challenging job market, grappling with the loss of family benefits such as dental insurance and facing difficult decisions about healthcare for their child.
Stainnak has since joined a class-action lawsuit claiming that the Trump administration unlawfully discriminated against numerous federal employees in DEI roles. The lawsuit argues that the administration targeted these individuals based on their race, gender, or advocacy for protected groups. “It’s not acceptable for the Trump administration to target us because of who we are,” Stainnak asserts. As of now, the Trump administration has yet to respond to the lawsuit, and the White House has refrained from commenting on the matter.
Throughout the year, President Trump has celebrated the upheaval he has caused within the government, claiming it is a necessary measure to eliminate waste and restore accountability. Max Stier, president of the Partnership for Public Service, disagrees vehemently, stating that such actions resemble a regression to a time when government served private interests rather than the public good. Stier, who has worked for over two decades across both Democratic and Republican administrations, warns that the current administration's approach threatens to dismantle the progress made in public service and governance.
In response to Stier's comments, White House press secretary Liz Huston claimed that President Trump's primary motivation is to enhance the lives of American citizens, highlighting recent achievements like improving the air traffic control system and reducing the backlog of veterans awaiting benefits. However, Stier acknowledges some positive developments but emphasizes that the overwhelming destruction of established systems is counterproductive.
Like Goggin, Keri Murphy is also grappling with feelings of loss and disillusionment. Having initially felt proud to work as a federal employee at the Commerce Department, Murphy found herself caught in the mass firings of probationary employees initiated by the Trump administration. Many were terminated under the guise of poor performance, despite receiving accolades for their work. Murphy's legal battles, which included temporary reinstatement and subsequent firing, culminated in a court ruling that deemed the mass firings illegal, although the judge did not mandate employee reinstatement.
Despite starting a new job, Murphy finds herself earning significantly less than before and lacking benefits, leaving her uncertain about her future. “I would love to return to the government,” she admits, despite all she's endured.
After departing from the VA, Liz Goggin took the initiative to establish a private practice, quickly filling her schedule with clients seeking therapy. Her expertise, developed over years of service in the federal system, has proven to be in high demand outside of government roles. Now, Goggin manages a busy schedule, including running a weekly support group for individuals in recovery. While she enjoys the flexibility of self-employment, she reflects on her past work with deep nostalgia.
Even though Goggin is thriving in her new venture, she occasionally checks the government’s hiring portal, USAJobs, contemplating a potential return to the VA. “It’s this weird habit I have,” she admits. Despite her experiences, Murphy echoes similar sentiments about possibly rejoining the federal workforce, revealing how the desire to serve remains a strong pull.