Anonymous
Post 04/15/2026 08:17     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
Folks are playing the long game. A federal career is still a good investment, and in a few years, things will change considerably. I'm a fed and miserable - but this to shall pass. I'm can't retire, and I'm not going to throw it all away. I can survive for two more years. I can totally see why someone would apply with the same perspective.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2026 08:02     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
Anonymous wrote:They "get away with it" because it's a terrible job market. Private sector companies can get away with a lot RN too. Doesn't mean the feds are going to get the same caliber of people for a long time.


+1. Layoffs do affect how many people apply and who they are. But many people can't afford to be choosy.

And unless you have the application data, you're doing the hiring, or you're tracking new hires and you know what 'quality' looks like, you're not going to be able to evaluate how the applicant pool has been affected, except when it's something like DOJ recruiting on twitter/removing experience requirements.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2026 07:37     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
They "get away with it" because it's a terrible job market. Private sector companies can get away with a lot RN too. Doesn't mean the feds are going to get the same caliber of people for a long time.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2026 07:34     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
What happened is terrible. And I really appreciate the people who made a public statement by stepping down rather than countenance illegal or unethical things. I’m thinking specifically of the NY AG office and the Minneapolis DOG office. (I’m not a lawyer so these titles may be wrong).

That being said, I can’t blame anyone for wanting to put food in their family’s mouth.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2026 07:28     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
I think a lot of the applications are coming from people already in the agency or at another agency. But otherwise yeah, hard to see who thinks it is a great time to make the jump. My guess is that it is a lot of frankly less qualified people for whom the salary is a big jump up, and maybe also lawyers who hate firms so much that the govt seems like a better bet. I also think people correctly believe that the worst is over.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2026 02:21     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
Yes.

Companies routinely massacre their sheep and yet they still come.

From Fortune 500 corporations to law firms.

What do you propose? Not working?
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2026 02:10     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Amazing how many agencies are hiring lately and apparently have gotten applicants. How is that possible after the year of abuse — RIFs, doge, cancellation of TW and CBAs, low or zero pay raises, 5 bullets, criticism and insults, etc etc.

If any private company did something like that, they’d never get away with it — nobody would apply to work there for a long time. So how does the federal government get away with it?


Amazon does and gets away with it, including locally along the Silver Line


+1. I think Capital One also. Lots of private companies ruthlessly fire a set percentage of their people every year, and yet have no difficulty finding people to work there.


People take the jobs but either are fired or quit.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2026 02:09     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Amazing how many agencies are hiring lately and apparently have gotten applicants. How is that possible after the year of abuse — RIFs, doge, cancellation of TW and CBAs, low or zero pay raises, 5 bullets, criticism and insults, etc etc.

If any private company did something like that, they’d never get away with it — nobody would apply to work there for a long time. So how does the federal government get away with it?


Abuse like being laid off by email at 6am? Oracle just did that. Amazon cancelled telework and is famous for its PIP and hire to fire culture. CBAs? Who even has unions anymore?

I’m curious where you work that they treat you so well, please share so we can apply!!


This, if you make it 2-4 years and survive at Amazon you are lucky. The culture is terrible.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2026 02:01     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Amazing how many agencies are hiring lately and apparently have gotten applicants. How is that possible after the year of abuse — RIFs, doge, cancellation of TW and CBAs, low or zero pay raises, 5 bullets, criticism and insults, etc etc.

If any private company did something like that, they’d never get away with it — nobody would apply to work there for a long time. So how does the federal government get away with it?


Amazon does and gets away with it, including locally along the Silver Line


+1. I think Capital One also. Lots of private companies ruthlessly fire a set percentage of their people every year, and yet have no difficulty finding people to work there.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 16:02     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
Very, its very hard to get a job in some fields.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 16:01     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
Anonymous wrote:Amazing how many agencies are hiring lately and apparently have gotten applicants. How is that possible after the year of abuse — RIFs, doge, cancellation of TW and CBAs, low or zero pay raises, 5 bullets, criticism and insults, etc etc.

If any private company did something like that, they’d never get away with it — nobody would apply to work there for a long time. So how does the federal government get away with it?


Amazon does and gets away with it, including locally along the Silver Line
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 15:06     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The five points email was stupid, but hardly “abuse.” Get a grip.


The richest man in the world was tweeting derisively about federal employees and making it clear they didn't think he did anything. That was how we found out about this new job requirement. Of course it was abusive. That was the point.

Many people gave wise answers. No one took the 5 bullets seriously, starting with our leadership.


Congratulations? It's still abusive. Elon Musk hated federal employees, made that hatred clear, and was allowed to make this rule.


As a non-fed, it was abusive, insane and pretty nauseating. That said, we need it all fixed from the inside-out. I can see the arguments for a slimmed down government but we need government to run certain things, period. People are insane if they think they can/should dismantle agencies that we NEED.


Agreed. It sucked.

OP, it was uncomfortable and stressful. And still is to a degree (spouse is a fed). But you know what else is uncomfortable and stressful? Unemployment.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 14:19     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?


I really hope that when karma gets the OP, they will remember that they are stupid and desperate.

Way to kick people when they're down, OP! I hope you lose your job!

Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 14:18     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
Anonymous wrote:Amazing how many agencies are hiring lately and apparently have gotten applicants. How is that possible after the year of abuse — RIFs, doge, cancellation of TW and CBAs, low or zero pay raises, 5 bullets, criticism and insults, etc etc.

If any private company did something like that, they’d never get away with it — nobody would apply to work there for a long time. So how does the federal government get away with it?


Abuse like being laid off by email at 6am? Oracle just did that. Amazon cancelled telework and is famous for its PIP and hire to fire culture. CBAs? Who even has unions anymore?

I’m curious where you work that they treat you so well, please share so we can apply!!
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 14:14     Subject: Are people really that stupid/desperate?
Anonymous wrote:Amazing how many agencies are hiring lately and apparently have gotten applicants. How is that possible after the year of abuse — RIFs, doge, cancellation of TW and CBAs, low or zero pay raises, 5 bullets, criticism and insults, etc etc.

If any private company did something like that, they’d never get away with it — nobody would apply to work there for a long time. So how does the federal government get away with it?


So X hasn’t hired anyone since the Twitter acquisition?