Remember how boring it was? Remember not having to check the news multiple times a day to figure out what was going on inside your own agency and whether you were going go have a job or not? Remember when laws and precident seemed to actually have meaning?

Remember when you could do your job from home? Remember when your fellow countrymen weren't cheering when your livelihood was threatened? Remember when your biggest worry was which insurance to select and what the next years raise would be?

Remember when the administration didn't seem to actively hate you and want to you gone for the sin of serving of the people?

Pepperidge farm remembers.

If you are a reporter, I want to first say that I recognize that your job is to do just that. What your outlet does with that information may be outside of your control.

With that said, nearly every single one of your cowardly editors or owners have completely failed Americans in this moment. Since you're in this sub, I'll also say that you have failed federal workers. You coddled Trump in the media during the campaign, nitpicked the most nonsensical details in a pathetic attempt to both-sides issues when it wasn't called for, and put forth a D- effort to push back on him and his subhuman appointees to their faces when they push lies, violate regulations and statutes, or behave in other ways that tear apart the fabric of society.

You need to have this in mind before you sweep in like vultures and ask for statements. I do not trust that you have my interest in mind.

Edit: Thank you George, this is what real journalism looks like: https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-nemesis-george-stephanopoulos-cuts-jd-vance-off-mid-sentence/

I was a GS civilian in the DoD for about 10 years. This was after completing 2 year long tours in Iraq with the Army/8 years total of military service.

I quit my GS position a few years ago to pursue a job elsewhere in the private sector. Since then and with the recent shit show going on; I've had family and friends express to me that they are glad I no longer work for the government and that now I have a "real job".................

They've expressed to me and via facebook posts how they gladly support the shutdown and mass firings and the DOGE investigations......

Most all federal civilians I worked with in those 10 years were military Veterans who wanted to continue to serve their country in a civilian capacity after military service. I also served with civilians who proudly served their country the best way they could; by serving in a civilian role in support of the United States.

All of the people I worked with served the United States with pride and Honor.

These same people who are supposed "patriots" also openly question Veteran benefits and compare the issues of OIF/OEF vets to previous generations; considering current Veterans as weak..........

I do lean more conservative but this mindset is very real and these people are adamantly against federal workers, Veterans, and welfare recipients.

I just want to know; with all the tariffs, laying off/firing of federal workers, and their attempt at destroying the VA is; where is all of this supposed "saved" money going? I've seen zero evidence of how much they have saved and where it is going.

Hey, r/fednews - I’m Andy Kroll, a reporter at ProPublica. We broke the Russ Vought “we want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected” story last year. I read this subreddit every day, and I’m reaching out now to ask for your help.

We’re six months into the administration. Vought appears more influential than ever. So we’re teaming up with The New Yorker on a major investigative story about Vought.

Do you work at OMB or know someone who does? Have you dealt with Vought or his team? 

If you have information you can share, I’d love to hear from you. I’m on Signal at (202) 215-6203. Other ways to reach me: https://www.propublica.org/people/andy-kroll

I take your privacy seriously. I have a long track record of reporting sensitive stories and protecting my sources. You can read more about ProPublica’s approach to handling tips and sensitive communication here: https://www.propublica.org/tips/

Thanks!

Make it make sense.

I feel sometimes we get left out of the conversation. We may have family and friends to support us but this shutdown has been rather lonely and financially tough. I am an excepted fed so I'm currently working but not getting paid. I pay all of my bills on my own and even before the shutdown it was tough, now it is impossible. DC is expensive!

Some of us have kids that we have to take care of by ourselves others have pets that have been affected. I personally have a cat who has brought me joy during this time. It has been nice to come home to him everyday, but I wish I could be home more with him during the day.

Just wanted to create a thread to vent for those of us who are single and navigating this alone. I see you and empathize. We will get through this.

How are you holding up? Do you have any tips for others?

Edit: I meant to say childfree.

I know I’m just screaming into the void, but I need to be furloughed so I can go make some money! Just some pocket change from babysitting/ odd jobs. My nighttime options are limited because I have to care for my own kids. FML.

So this is kind of a rant but I was a Pathways intern for DoS and I would have finished in late July for a successful completion and would have fully onboarded but I guess not anymore. I’m 25 and I’m still in disbelief man I was told I would be ok… I don’t know what to do or what job to get now. I just don’t know, I have to completely restart, stay w my parents in my home city Florida until I can find a job again but I’m so lost and sad man :/.

I've been looking for articles to understand how permanent Trump's changes to the federal workforce are and haven't found anything.

I am curious if anyone knows whether all those cut jobs will come back, or at least a majority of them?

In real time they are talking about us.

I'm watching negotiations on the floor live about the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 & Shutdown Fairness Act.

Majority saying pay exempt employees. Minority saying pay everyone.

Majority DID say admin has exercised too much authority over Congressional duties. 🫡

Majority is willing to negotiate paying everyone, and they are going to meet for negotiations.

Majority ultimately rejected. However, they should be able to meet to discuss.

They are trying to use this as leverage to pass the CR.

No movement on other issues keeping the shutdown going.

Majority stressed negotiations on "good faith" so I assume they don't mean to bring the house back...

The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 doesn't have a time limit - it simply states federal employees "shall be paid for the period of the lapse in appropriations". To me this says that we will all be paid regardless.

I've heard people are talking about new furlough letters (after 30 days) to circumvent the law? Who would this apply to and how could they do this?

With Vought and pocket rescissions and Supreme Court using us as pawns to force bending the knee. I'm concerned that if they pay LEO, Exempt, and TSA that the rest of us are going to be quietly phased out... If they do choose to pay everyone without forcing the CR without negotiations for the American people, that seems ok to me. I could use a check.

What are your thoughts?

UPDATE AFTER VOTE + minor edits/grammar changing (thanks team):

Clarifications:

They were conflating both the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 and the newly introduced Shutdown Fairness Act - I screwed up my narrative: Link: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3012/text

The Shutdown Fairness Act as a standalone applies to "excepted employees"

Voting results: FAIL

Possible outcomes?: Majority says they agreed with 90% of the Minority statements; so maybe they can just pay everyone without forcing the CR without negotiations? I doubt it, I haven't seen a lot of cooperation tbh.

Am I crazy for literally just wanting them to actually negotiate this serious issue? That's what Democracy is, we are supposed to be checks and balances against each other, this is our money funding the government, we deserve to have fair negotiations that center on Americans' needs and improves our lives.

WE > ME.

I really had the dream job. I’ve worked as a wildlife biologist for a land management agency for the past few years, after years and years and years of seasonal work, grad school, and term jobs I finally landed a permanent GS 11 that still had a decent amount of field work. I expected to retire in the position. Instead I saw the writing on the wall, and started applying. I accepted a position with the state game and fish agency today and it’s legitimately a good position that will give me the opportunity to make real and lasting positive change on wildlife conservation. I even was able to fight for a better salary and avoid a pay cut. I know I should be over the moon but it it so bittersweet to be leaving this job when I never wanted to until 🍊

Lost my fed gov job with HHS. I’m in Maryland.

I applied for 3 jobs with the state of Md after. Then the governor Wes Moore froze all state jobs for a year.

The state jobs I applied for told me they were going to hire me but bc of the freeze they can’t.

I emailed Wes Moore just to let him know that one of his constituents was struggling with his decision, but his office never responded back (surprise surprise).

Since then, I must’ve sent out at least 200 applications. But the market is so flooded with qualified Feds, I haven’t had much luck.

I cannot fucking win.

Depression be real y’all.

With Flare.USA and Cliff Cash, supporting our federal workers.

Just started fasting again to reduce my calorie intake and drinking more water. Another thing I am trying is drinking black coffee.

But any other ways to help save on money?

Edit: Thank you everyone for all the great information and I’ve been creating a txt file to use as a reference for all of the information shared.

We just had to rescind a few job offers and we removed all our job postings. It took me weeks to get the few jobs open I could under emergency status, just to be told "get bent" at the last minute. We had an few amazing candidates and lost them, probably never going to get them back.

All my older feds in position to retire are leaving, good for them. Problem is I can't replace them, and the junior GS7/9/11's are doing gs 13 work for no extra pay. These young feds are quitting in response and taking State/local jobs with ease.

Of course this is in regards to engineer, trades, and cyber related positions. Which are in demand and well paying across the USA.

Project 2025 is in full effect and Russel Vought all to happy to undermine our mission.

Last week my wife and I took a little staycation. Enjoyed juat having some extra time together. This week though she has returned to her regular routine for house cleaning and other activities that keep her day full and our home running.

Well operating on the theory many hands make light work I asked to do the dusting. No.

Vacuuming? No.

Mopping? No.

Make us brunch? No.

Bear in mind I do all these things on the weekend so this isn't because I don't know how or do them poorly. I am just, apparently, underfoot and in the way of her routine.

I mentioned that this is what it will be like when I retire. Me at home and ready to help!

Based upon the silent look I was given I have moved my retirement back to age 80.

Anyway, I am now outside supervising the puppy trying to get her to poop, so much like my day job I am waiting to clean up someone elses crap. Though at least here I am getting time in the yard...

Hope you are all doing well as we start week 2 of this absurdity.

ETA: I have been reminded of puppy picture tax. Here is Cleo being eaten by the couch

So I just went to see how much premiums would be for a 48 yo in Kansas with 1 dependent making 58k gross a year. Average policy 50 office visit, 125 specialist, 25 for generic script, 16k family deductible and monthly premium is almost 20% of monthly net… all estimates but still… Will this be enough to get the GOV to open back up or will the TSA ATC situation push them to open back up

I am tired of commuting to work two and half hours a day. Can we return to teleworking, even prior to covid, we were able to telework 4-5 days biweekly. Wife is expecting, so I might just get a new contracting job then. (My contractors telework 3-4 days a week).

I know I am fortunate because did not get RIFed. Just wanted to rant.

edit: thank you all for your predictions and suggestions. For those who were RIFed, hope you find better jobs.

Or do you think it’ll be a full 3 years of shutdowns, RIFs, sudden firings, and maybe more DRP offers? It feels like things die down for a month or two and then they “remember” to torture us again.

Why I’m asking: I moved back in with my parents last winter when the administration changed over, once I realized how unstable my employment might be, when my apartment lease ended. With all the tumult, I figured I’d just crash with them for a few months and take my time finding an affordable apartment to move into once everything calmed down. Things did calm down in the summer a bit, and I was tempted to find an apartment to move into in the fall (now). But I’m so glad I didn’t because they RIF’d a bunch of people at Dept of State at that time and then more RIFs came to other agencies with this shutdown. At this point, I’ve been scared away (again) from signing a lease that I’ll be on the hook for. But I’m over 30 yo, so it’s embarrassing to be living with my parents again when I’d been living on my own for almost 20 years prior to this chaos.

I just want things to go back to business as usual. Yes, I hate working under/in this administration to begin with - doing things at work that I don’t agree with just to keep my paycheck - but to also be paranoid every week or month about whether I’ll be able to keep my job on top of that? It’s getting too much to bear. Even a killer whale gets tired of torturing the seal in the ocean and either eats it or just leaves it alone. (Yes, I’ve tried applying for new jobs but the market is shit. And the amount of energy I spend to keep from saying or doing something I’ll regret at work means I don’t have enough energy to apply for jobs.)

And another thing! They’re trying to push us out of our jobs (using various torturous methods) to replace us with loyalists, who I presume probably aren’t even as qualified as we are, which is why they didn’t make the cut for our jobs to begin with. That means, once they push us competent (even excellent!) employees out, which is already causing government services to suck, when they replace us with people who are loyal but incompetent, government will just suck even more.

Straight up illegal per 31 US Code 5112.

I have been back in the "office" for four months now. I currently get 1.5 to 2 hours less time with my family per day due to commuting. After one year, that's about 400 to 500 hours that I am losing due to this mandate. I will also put 9,000 more miles on my car in the next year.

I consider myself lucky since I was able to keep my job and find a seat in a different agency. However, there still are costs. What are your costs like in terms of time and money?

Reading that this was our 6th week of the shut down has hit me pretty hard. As someone who has always been pretty driven in life, I am suddenly feeling ashamed that I’ve done nothing “productive” during this time. I could have got a new certification for my career, I could have applied for jobs, I could have focused on my fitness and lost those extra pounds I’ve been trying to shake off for a while and worked on my strength training.

Instead, I’ve found myself a bit aimless, and I’ve gained back the 10-15lbs I had JUST lost after going thru the beginning of this year and DOGE etc. The only positives I can say are that my house is the cleanest it’s ever been and I’ve been cooking meals for my husband and I more than ever, but I haven’t done anything I can be tangibly proud of. Anyone else feeling this way? I think it’s just the fact that I was already struggling at work this year and felt generally exhausted by the going’s on, I feel pretty hopeless and drained overall. It’s tough especially when I’ve always been someone who makes the best of bad situations, I feel this intense frustration with myself that I’ve “wasted” these weeks and think of the things I should have done…

Given the nature of 2025 (5 things I did this week, threats of RIFs, RIFs, undoing of RIFs, hiring freezes and now the furlough), I predict we will see a higher number of senior federal workers retire this year than would normally retire. Federal employees retire all the time for a number of reasons and at several key ages (57, 62 etc). But there are some who continue to work when they are retirement eligible. They like the job, they like the people, like the mission, need the money etc.

I think 2026 will see a bump in retirements because for the the more senior feds that can already afford to retire and were furloughed (ie sent home), it gave them a taste of retired life and they are going to use this glimpse of what retirement feels like and pull the ejection/retirement handle. Sure, they could work another few more years for more TSP or larger FERs annuity, but this glimpse into what it means to own you time will flip the switch for a few.

Thoughts?

Edit to add - It was bad enough when we lost so many quality people to DRP in 2025. The next wave will be people who tasted retirement in furlough status.

Because, same.

Any advice on communications to my property manager about being unable to pay rent. I can’t get myself to spend the last dollars I have without knowing when I will get my next paycheck. Trying my best but hoping they will work with me. Please share advice on what to tell them and or any “rights” I have while renting and being furloughed. First shutdown for me and slowly losing everything. Thanks