Feds and Fed contractors, how are you holding up?

[Anonymous]

As we go into this three day weekend, wanted to check in on everyone. This week’s multiple injunctions just further this roller coaster we’ve all been on.

I am a fed contractor and we’re preparing for what the end of the fiscal year might bring for us. I legitimately cried for an hour last night. I’ve known for a while that I will likely not leave this year with a job but the reality struck me really hard last night. There are no jobs to be found. I love my job and my company and I have such cognitive dissonance going to work each day knowing that another contract cancellation might mean it’s my last. And I’m hurting at the destruction of my field.

I’m 40. I don’t know how to start over.

[Anonymous]

Terrible. Waiting for the ax at state. It's coming in the next two weeks.

[Anonymous]

I've disconnected, primarily working and existing in autopilot until I receive a new job offer, or my agency offers VERA. VERA and I am out the door and not looking back.

[Anonymous]

It’s terrible. It’s sad. I’ve cried more than I ever have.

[Anonymous]

I’m really sorry people are going through this horrible uncertainty. Awful leadership in place!

My husband is a fed subcontractor and they just finalized their new contract (5 years). He works for one of the three-letter agencies.

[Anonymous]

Fine but tired. So so tired.

[Anonymous]

Sad for everyone around me. A little relieved I chose to do tech in defense. Our dod company is hiring and I'm trying to pick up some former usaid and other contractors that have relevant skills.

[Anonymous]

Rif goes into effect June 2nd. Hope I’ve adjusted the budget okay 50 percent reduction in salary for our household. A mid GS too so we needed all of it.

[Anonymous]

We were supposed to flatten the bloated hierarchy at my agency. The only flattening that was done was people leaving for DRP.

We then laid off all our lowest paid employees GS-6 and GS-7 admins.


Felt eerily similar like a tax cut for the rich, and bumping poor people off Medicaid

[Anonymous]

I left last month and found a higher paid job in the private sector so I feel incredibly lucky but also really sad and guilty. I have been in public service for over 20 years, that was what I was highly educated to do and it always felt like my calling. Walking out of my office for the last time made me cry and I knew I was handing over all of this work to a couple of overwhelmed and unqualified people who were inheriting a lot of things that will fail. I’m looking into European citizenship in case that will be a safer place to live in the next few years.

[Anonymous]

Like OP, I am generally operating with cognitive dissonance just so I can get through the day of getting my work done and getting the kids to activities and making dinner. We’re a dual fed/fed contractor family so the anxiety is thick. In the worst of times I spiral and envision losing our home and everything we’ve worked for.

This week I broke down at the uncertainty of it all. I’m having escape fantasies — not really wanting to die, but wishing for a way out like an accident where I can go be in a coma for a while and then wake up to a giant settlement from whoever caused it and news of impeachment. Yes I know it’s crazy, but my brain is desperately trying to find a way out of this.

I’ve been job searching and networking like crazy, but the economy around here is in the toilet. The fact that many summer camps that generally fill up quickly still have spots is a soft sign of how we’re all doing. The fact this is all being done purposefully to hurt us makes me so angry, like our own government betrayed us after we devoted our careers to the public. And there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, so it’s not like well if I can just grit though the next X months it will be ok. Instead it’s just bleakness and probably going to get worse. Every day I learn of another friend, neighbor, etc. losing their job and I just know we can’t all live off savings forever.

[Anonymous]

I’m a fed contractor. Jumped ship from a consulting firm to a defense contractor once doge started bringing the hammer down. Still sucks but it feels more secure.

[Anonymous]

Fed. Still think that getting fired is around every corner. I have a lot of work to do but am struggling to stay focused and do it. I’ve been looking around but not very seriously since everyone says the market is so bleak. I’m depressed enough without adding rejections.

[Anonymous]

Fed here and also at state. I’m numbing out but the stress is killing me. I keep getting a reoccurring cold and will spend the weekend trying to recover. I’ve applied for several jobs and pulled some money from my Roth to attend a career fair in Las Vegas.

I don’t allow myself to cry - i think the more
I resist the more harmful it will become. I’m going with the flow. If I can keep my job- great. If I can’t - I’m leaning on my own experience God and networking.

[Anonymous]

Pretty good. The ick and bullshit and “client” abuse that I endure as an RN — that no office worker would ever face — has a payoff. Not only are we federal RNs not being axed now or previously, but if we are, we will have 3 good full-time job offers next week if we are RIFed. It’s the upside of grueling sometimes smelly yet professional work. Silver lining.

I mention this in case any feds want to retrain.