Federal Employment - Post DOGE Era

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have an inkling of how stable a Federal job could be right now? I am looking at jobs at some scientific agencies, and also see some roles in the DoW but they are more of a reach.

I currently work at EPA and worry more RIF/ are going to come, but I want to stay for the pension as I have 15 years and I am 53 years old.

I have been applying to private industry roles, but none have panned out (several interviews, and even a couple offers but for less money or requiring a large move).

I would feel more sanguine and less frantic to look for work if the random layoffs and punitive actions like we had from DOGE is behind us?

[Anonymous]

You might want to look at this article from today's WaPo: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/09/trump-hiring-federal-workers/

Among other things, it says that the current Administration is looking for younger workers who might only stay a few years. I don't know how this would fit into positions that would require scientific expertise, but you should at least consider whether the workplace being described in this article sounds like somewhere you'd like to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might want to look at this article from today's WaPo: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/09/trump-hiring-federal-workers/

Among other things, it says that the current Administration is looking for younger workers who might only stay a few years. I don't know how this would fit into positions that would require scientific expertise, but you should at least consider whether the workplace being described in this article sounds like somewhere you'd like to work.

Like to work is a luxury most people don’t have. No private company is hiring a 50+ worker these days.

OP needs to evaluate if her role is safe at her agency, and what her plans would be when she is pushed out the door after a few years, since it sounds like they will want to cycle in lower cost younger workers forever.

Trump favored agencies like DOD may be a worthwhile consideration.

[Anonymous]

Don't jump ship because you *think* you could have to jump ship

You are asking for a crystal ball. There isn't one. What is happening is you are stressing yourself out -- double time. That you are doing. You are worrying about being let go which hasn't happened + you are worried you haven't been hired into a job which: you don't know what it is, don't need, and don't even know you want.

[Anonymous]

Are you environmental woke science or pesticide approving biddness science?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you environmental woke science or pesticide approving biddness science?

lol but this. I do think the days of mass layoffs are over but I also think you are safer if you are in a less policy focused area. I don’t think EPA will be eliminated but some programs could be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you environmental woke science or pesticide approving biddness science?

lol but this. I do think the days of mass layoffs are over but I also think you are safer if you are in a less policy focused area. I don’t think EPA will be eliminated but some programs could be.

I’m in an operations role where I coordinate sample collection and monitoring. I think there is a push to privatize and AI do the work (like every job). How much time do I have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you environmental woke science or pesticide approving biddness science?

lol but this. I do think the days of mass layoffs are over but I also think you are safer if you are in a less policy focused area. I don’t think EPA will be eliminated but some programs could be.

I’m in an operations role where I coordinate sample collection and monitoring. I think there is a push to privatize and AI do the work (like every job). How much time do I have?

I honestly believe you're fine. They may not like your mission but they have a lot of fish to fry and are finding out right now how hard it is to create solutions to the things they've enjoyed complaining about.

But, the smart move is to use this time to develop a parallel skill set that would let you more easily move to another agency - maybe coordinating drug tests for human employees, or something in supply chain management; I don't know your skills but my point is to start building a landing pad that isn't EPA-specific while still staying in your EPA job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you environmental woke science or pesticide approving biddness science?

lol but this. I do think the days of mass layoffs are over but I also think you are safer if you are in a less policy focused area. I don’t think EPA will be eliminated but some programs could be.

I’m in an operations role where I coordinate sample collection and monitoring. I think there is a push to privatize and AI do the work (like every job). How much time do I have?

I honestly believe you're fine. They may not like your mission but they have a lot of fish to fry and are finding out right now how hard it is to create solutions to the things they've enjoyed complaining about.

But, the smart move is to use this time to develop a parallel skill set that would let you more easily move to another agency - maybe coordinating drug tests for human employees, or something in supply chain management; I don't know your skills but my point is to start building a landing pad that isn't EPA-specific while still staying in your EPA job.

They have already told all our support technicians that they will be gone.

[Anonymous]

Many parts of the civil service now are reasonably stable. In know of several parts of DoD/DoW that are hiring people with STEM degrees. Neither of those groups include policy-focused offices/agencies.

I would think EPA is higher risk than some because it has a large policy element.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you environmental woke science or pesticide approving biddness science?

lol but this. I do think the days of mass layoffs are over but I also think you are safer if you are in a less policy focused area. I don’t think EPA will be eliminated but some programs could be.

I’m in an operations role where I coordinate sample collection and monitoring. I think there is a push to privatize and AI do the work (like every job). How much time do I have?

I honestly believe you're fine. They may not like your mission but they have a lot of fish to fry and are finding out right now how hard it is to create solutions to the things they've enjoyed complaining about.

But, the smart move is to use this time to develop a parallel skill set that would let you more easily move to another agency - maybe coordinating drug tests for human employees, or something in supply chain management; I don't know your skills but my point is to start building a landing pad that isn't EPA-specific while still staying in your EPA job.

They have already told all our support technicians that they will be gone.

I don't know what you want from this thread. You know more about your own job situation than anybody on DCUM. People have told you what they're seeing generally (which is hiring, or at least not firing) but if you think you're in specific danger then we are not equipped to tell you otherwise.

[Anonymous]

doD is always going to be fine. Change agencies

[Anonymous]

The DOGE bs is over since it was such a catastrophic failure, both fiscally and politically. But there are new pitfalls in federal employment such as taking an ideological position that gets summarily fired by a later administration. One example is the DHS Homeland Defender job that hires incompetent GS 7s to "defend their culture" which isn't a DHS mission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you environmental woke science or pesticide approving biddness science?

lol but this. I do think the days of mass layoffs are over but I also think you are safer if you are in a less policy focused area. I don’t think EPA will be eliminated but some programs could be.

I’m in an operations role where I coordinate sample collection and monitoring. I think there is a push to privatize and AI do the work (like every job). How much time do I have?

I honestly believe you're fine. They may not like your mission but they have a lot of fish to fry and are finding out right now how hard it is to create solutions to the things they've enjoyed complaining about.

But, the smart move is to use this time to develop a parallel skill set that would let you more easily move to another agency - maybe coordinating drug tests for human employees, or something in supply chain management; I don't know your skills but my point is to start building a landing pad that isn't EPA-specific while still staying in your EPA job.

They have already told all our support technicians that they will be gone.

I don't know what you want from this thread. You know more about your own job situation than anybody on DCUM. People have told you what they're seeing generally (which is hiring, or at least not firing) but if you think you're in specific danger then we are not equipped to tell you otherwise.

Just worried that I’m sitting complacent while larger forces work to unravel my life when I should be switching to an ageny that is hiring.

[Anonymous]

I'm at EPA and, at least in my office, we have a serious shortage of managers and no ability to hire from outside. I assume that with your years and age you are relatively senior, so I would keep an eye out for manager positions over the next year, potentially in a different office that is more stable.

Personally, I'm not worried about RIFs. The only people who actually got fired were the poor people in the EJ office. Even most of the probationary people were brought back. They had so many people take DRP, and even more people continue to leave every day. They literally don't have enough people to do the work they do want us to do.