Some other issues to consider:
-How quickly did you get this job offer? How marketable are you? One consideration is whether you can risk waiting and trying to find another job with less of a commute.

-How intolerable is your agency office/position? Is your office not in the line of fire and merely stressful and annoying? Or truly miserable and affecting your daily well being? Weight that with the savings hit (and eg are you paying for college soon?), significantly less PTO, health benefits etc.

-How risky in the company you’re considering? Start up that’s expanding super fast? Tech? What the layoff history?

Good luck!

I took a 60 percent cut in pay and changed careers. Partner works but not a huge earner. I was rifD though after 15 years and experience at two agencies. We are ok for now and day to day but the huge hit will be to retirement savings and later in life.

I left for what amounts to a pay cut all in but the difference is I cut my commute in half. I would never ever have added to my commute. Unless your new job has a very flexible hybrid in office rule I would really think about what a longer commute would mean for your life.

If you can afford the pay cut, don’t let the anchor of a previous salary stop you! That said, the commute change would give me pause. Perhaps this is the time to stay and continue job searching aggressively.

Regarding three years, it would be nice to see something change then but think it’s increasingly unlikely. My husband is still a fed in a non-politicized agency, and I increasingly wager that there may be about three years left where working in the executive branch in any capacity makes sense. If Trump or another in his circle hold the presidency unconstitutionally, staying on as a fed becomes very difficult to justify.

The only sticking point for me would be the commute. You didn't mention how long that would be in total or whether it's metro/MARC (where you can read or zone out) vs. driving. And is there potential for hybrid?

Is your field very competitive?

I would not try to wait it out in your current job unless you're close to retirement. (And even then, I'd take a VERA if offered.) It would only be a matter of whether to leave for this job or to keep looking for another.

You say that you dread going to work. This is going to take a toll on your if it goes on for years. Life is short. You deserve better.

I got out out of the Fed government to take a position with a 55% pay cut. The new Admin was incredibly toxic on purpose to get as many of us to quit as possible, so I got out for my mental health.

But this is how my situation was different from OP’s. I had already been thinking about leaving because even in the previous Admin I was working 9-10 hour days and was burning out. My family had already acquired a nice nest egg through saving and inheritances, so we did not “need” the money I was walking away from. My partner is still a Fed in a position they are not likely to RIF with decent leadership, so they can hang on to that job for Fed benefits, retirement etc. for a few more years. My new job has way better (i.e. fewer) hours, less stress, and a very short commute.

Overall, I am happy with my decision, although I wish it could have happened under better circumstances.

Anonymous wrote:Tough it out. That's a huge pay cut and a huge commute

This, but keep looking for a chance to lateral within government or lateral out if government to a position with a similar commute as now and same or better pay.

Anonymous wrote:Just interested in whether others have faced this choice: I currently am at a highly politicized federal agency making a very good salary. The working conditions have been awful this year. I used to love every day at work, now I dread it. Within months it we t from being my dream job to being my nightmare. If I keep my head down my job is probably safe, but who knows. I have an opportunity to take a much less crazy (non federal) job with sane supervisors but it would be a 30% pay cut and my commute would be a half hour longer. We have been saving a lot so I could afford the pay cut but would save far less. Do I make the jump or try to tough it out for three more years?

My God, do you work for FEMA?? I could have written that word for word. I am getting out of that environment stat!

God leave if you can!!!!

Leave and continue to search as you work in the new place. Get out. You don’t know when another round of RIFs will happen.

I left and took a 25% pay cut for a hybrid position. While I miss my colleagues, the agency, and the work, the flexibility is worth it. Also, the company contributes a much bigger percentage of my pay to my retirement, which somewhat makes up for the pay cut.