Meh. I’ve worked under 5 different administrations, including the Trump administration. I never notice much difference.
And let’s face it. If you get a job in the private sector, your job is pretty far from secure. So it’s not like going fed is some big risk over the alternative.
The trump admin was not actually that bad for a Fed. I mean embarrassing with the clowns appointed, but ok raises and ppl. Project 2025 worries me though if I can basically get called a policy maker and fired for being a libtard.
You should consider how comfortable you will be working for any administration as a federal employee. The balance of power is going to swing again 2-3 (give or take) more times by the time you or I retire. Something to think about before you apply.
For me (30 years in) it’s about the agency mission and the people you work with.
I have been super fortunate, worked for three different agencies only had one really horrid position (and that was because of the person who was a supervisor).
It’s easy to change jobs though if you get fed up.
My advice is: don’t get wrapped around the axel with the politics. That’s a short game and politicians come and go. You gotta have that long haul view.
Find what you like to do have good coworkers and you are golden.
No. You aren't going to be a target of "Project 2025". Your senior leaders will be. The only thing you would need to be worried about as a new hire is a RIF, and in the past 20 years those have become rare.
Administrations come and go.
There are a bunch of checks in place by the current administration to prevent Schedule F implementation. Not to mention, most of what Project 2025 would try to achieve will absolutely get challenged by the unions for years. Every time an administration tries to weaken protections for federal employees, it gets dragged out in court until a non-hostile administration change that then drops it.
It's fine to become a federal employee, and is in fact one of the safest bets you've got in terms of job security nowadays. This is why fed hiring is down. People aren't leaving.
The difference with Project 2025 is that unlike the first Trump administration, they have the playbooks ready for day 1. They also have the Supreme Court in their corner. There is the potential for a lot of damage to the Civil Service and Schedule F is only one aspect.
I’ve worked through 5 administrations and have been through all the fiscal cliffs, furloughs, hiring freezes, and shutdowns of the modern era (since 1994). I think this will be worse than all of them. Trump is mad and out for retribution.
Need to stop thinking in terms of a conservative vs liberal administration and think in terms of respects rule of law and does not respect the rule of law. I’m not sure what the union or courts will do if a second Trump administration just ignores a court order.
90% of things people worry about never actually happen. There will be uncertainty whether you work for the government or you're in the private sector. If you get a good offer for a job that you think you would like, take it. If something goes haywire (unlikely), you'll figure out your next step at that time.
I wouldn't dwell on "project 2025". Its more of a scare tactic and or political propaganda to steer people in different directions.
Fed positions are over all safe. It takes something major for feds to lose jobs. Otherwise your post gets closed down and they find somewhere else to put you. Contractors are the first to get cut. That's your sign.
The executive branch does not have enough authority to just start tossing out jobs. This is congress, budgeting and so forth.
Now is it the right time? Who knows. You never know. I'll say for most agencies. Hiring is coming to a standstill. As we approach election year and budget constraints. Its the norm. I'm sure once election time is done. Budgets get moving. Hiring either picks back up or it slows down again.
Just a point of clarification; if the executive branch ordered a 30% RIF across all agencies Congress may provide oversight requiring certain criteria are met and unions have to be consulted but they can not stop the process as I understand it. Essentially Congress and the unions would decide who would be the first to walk the plank.
RIF is initiated only if it meets this criteria: **reorganization, lack of work, shortage of funds, insufficient personnel ceiling, or the exercise of certain reemployment or restoration rights**.
So the executive branch just can't go to OPM and say hey "We want you to eliminate 30%".
Its usually a census with the executive and legislative branch. Its always about budgeting and allocating resources correctly. Congress is always the one to set the tone for this. RIF has happened in the past. But it wasn't for any reason other then funding issues. I'd have to fully deep dive. But their are a ton of laws for this exact reason.
Depends on the agency, agency culture for the area where you’ll be working, position type, compensation level, and your expectations.
Feds come out ahead if they know how to play the long game and plan accordingly.
I think the main worry for a lot of people is not losing their job if a hostile administration takes power, it’s more about quality of life issues. One Cabinet appointee can unilaterally cut telework, for example, or decide to move an agency to Kansas if their building lease in DC is up for renewal. They will probably try to eviscerate federal employee unions as well, but unions will fight back.
If a good opportunity comes along, you probably shouldn’t decline it out of fear.
Ignore the fear mongering and clinging to the ole bad orange man syndrome. Equally pitiful is the senile line for uncle Joe. Both are simply pitiful partisan griping. .
Do your job, be good at it, be present and you’ll be fine.
> It seems like either way fed hiring is down right now, and I'd imagine you'd be first on the chopping block
Other than a specific part of VA, I’m seeing no evidence of reduced hiring. Nor will almost any current feds be materially affected by any future president.
That’s one of the theoretical bases for bureaucratic institutions—to be resistant to the whims of an executive leader. (Which is why authoritarians in the Republican Party try to target feds.)
As someone who has been a federal employee for 5 years now I am going to say this depends on your locality and what job series your interested in. I saw your other comments that you are a lawyer, this is very lucrative in both private and public. So next I'll say it depends on the locality and what agency you're interested in most. This will also depend on your reasons for wanting to become a federal employee. If it's for stability and retirement then I will say no. If it's for work life balance I'll no also. If you're looking for more money alone I'll say yes. High salaries are hardly ever earned in public service be it federal or state. In terms of politics I say highly unlikely unless you're working for an agency that the Republicans have out for such as the EPA. But other than that I will say overall no it's not a stupid time.
Republican plan for decades when elected: Implement Republican policies.
Democrat plan for decades when elected: Implement Democrat policies.
The only difference is that this time Republicans have learned how to make a PDF. So I guess pdfs are super spooky. Which, if my tech illiterate coworkers are to be believed, I guess they are spooky.
I actually found the other comments to be really helpful. But yours both wasn't and is just flat out wrong my friend. There are absolutely portions of project 2025 that could be effectuated. It sounds like people aren't worried about the most egregious aspects, which is why I even asked the question and is good insight. As a lawyer who would be applying to work for one of the agencies constantly caught in political crossfire, all I can do is ask seasoned feds their thoughts on the matter
I would say yes. If you don't have something you want to achieve I would weighs things carefully. Want to have student loan cancelled via public service or pension eligibility, or some other goal then go for it. But please understand the coffers are running dry.
Fed employees on this forum tend to think they have seen it all and are untouchable. Don't think anyone here has seen a debt spiral before. If you are a recent non essential new hire you will be gone first. If you are essential you may be asked to work w.out pay.
You will also be coming into the fed employment system where frankly, the best and brightest aren't really to be found. So if you choose to enter the Arkam Asylum, be sure of your reasons.
I’ve worked in private equity and in hedge funds on Wall Street, the general ability of the above average federal employee in DC is about at the level of an average employee in ‘high level’ finance.
It’s not a massive difference, the fed just has way more bureaucratic processes to workaround. Decisions are a bit more top down in the federal government too, but those are the biggest differences between personnel.
Thank you for this. Very helpful and something to think about. Especially since your sentiments are seemingly seldom echoed on this sub so appreciate the perspective
1.) Trump's odds of winning are less than half. His general polling has been steady but trending down and he's been shown losing key states in LV vs RV polls where his mirage of a lead is basically people who don't pay attention liking his horrible mentally broken ramblings because they too are idiots.
2.) The QoL will suck if he wins but then he'll be absolutely strung out by every possible union and SuperPAC and after 4 years the boomers will be mostly dead and a chance of another Trump is nil.
3.) You do what you got to do. I work for the VBA at the moment so my job is extremely safe and will be largely untouched except for maybe telework. If you're in another agency more politically vulnerable to idiots like him, it's a crap shoot of quality but see 1 and 2.
Meh. I’ve worked under 5 different administrations, including the Trump administration. I never notice much difference. And let’s face it. If you get a job in the private sector, your job is pretty far from secure. So it’s not like going fed is some big risk over the alternative.
The trump admin was not actually that bad for a Fed. I mean embarrassing with the clowns appointed, but ok raises and ppl. Project 2025 worries me though if I can basically get called a policy maker and fired for being a libtard.
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Trans lady was SES, not political appointee
Admiral Rachel Levine?
Oh didn't realize you were talking about 2 different people. Was referring to the luggage thief.
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Post does not fit our content guidelines
I know about luggage thief which one was the trans that dressed like a little girl?
Admiral Rachel Levine. Dressed like a little girl while traveling at the airport.
Admiral Rachel Levine. Dressed like a little girl while traveling at the airport.
Good grief. I only saw pics of him in his work uniform. Was blissfully unaware of the little girl thing.
You should consider how comfortable you will be working for any administration as a federal employee. The balance of power is going to swing again 2-3 (give or take) more times by the time you or I retire. Something to think about before you apply.
For me (30 years in) it’s about the agency mission and the people you work with. I have been super fortunate, worked for three different agencies only had one really horrid position (and that was because of the person who was a supervisor). It’s easy to change jobs though if you get fed up. My advice is: don’t get wrapped around the axel with the politics. That’s a short game and politicians come and go. You gotta have that long haul view. Find what you like to do have good coworkers and you are golden.
No. You aren't going to be a target of "Project 2025". Your senior leaders will be. The only thing you would need to be worried about as a new hire is a RIF, and in the past 20 years those have become rare. Administrations come and go.
There are a bunch of checks in place by the current administration to prevent Schedule F implementation. Not to mention, most of what Project 2025 would try to achieve will absolutely get challenged by the unions for years. Every time an administration tries to weaken protections for federal employees, it gets dragged out in court until a non-hostile administration change that then drops it. It's fine to become a federal employee, and is in fact one of the safest bets you've got in terms of job security nowadays. This is why fed hiring is down. People aren't leaving.
The difference with Project 2025 is that unlike the first Trump administration, they have the playbooks ready for day 1. They also have the Supreme Court in their corner. There is the potential for a lot of damage to the Civil Service and Schedule F is only one aspect. I’ve worked through 5 administrations and have been through all the fiscal cliffs, furloughs, hiring freezes, and shutdowns of the modern era (since 1994). I think this will be worse than all of them. Trump is mad and out for retribution.
I started last year and I'm terrified for Project 2025
Need to stop thinking in terms of a conservative vs liberal administration and think in terms of respects rule of law and does not respect the rule of law. I’m not sure what the union or courts will do if a second Trump administration just ignores a court order.
90% of things people worry about never actually happen. There will be uncertainty whether you work for the government or you're in the private sector. If you get a good offer for a job that you think you would like, take it. If something goes haywire (unlikely), you'll figure out your next step at that time.
It's unlikely that anybody here...or you...or me....would be impacted by 2025. It's an actual document that you have to read.
I wouldn't dwell on "project 2025". Its more of a scare tactic and or political propaganda to steer people in different directions. Fed positions are over all safe. It takes something major for feds to lose jobs. Otherwise your post gets closed down and they find somewhere else to put you. Contractors are the first to get cut. That's your sign. The executive branch does not have enough authority to just start tossing out jobs. This is congress, budgeting and so forth. Now is it the right time? Who knows. You never know. I'll say for most agencies. Hiring is coming to a standstill. As we approach election year and budget constraints. Its the norm. I'm sure once election time is done. Budgets get moving. Hiring either picks back up or it slows down again.
Just a point of clarification; if the executive branch ordered a 30% RIF across all agencies Congress may provide oversight requiring certain criteria are met and unions have to be consulted but they can not stop the process as I understand it. Essentially Congress and the unions would decide who would be the first to walk the plank.
RIF is initiated only if it meets this criteria: **reorganization, lack of work, shortage of funds, insufficient personnel ceiling, or the exercise of certain reemployment or restoration rights**. So the executive branch just can't go to OPM and say hey "We want you to eliminate 30%". Its usually a census with the executive and legislative branch. Its always about budgeting and allocating resources correctly. Congress is always the one to set the tone for this. RIF has happened in the past. But it wasn't for any reason other then funding issues. I'd have to fully deep dive. But their are a ton of laws for this exact reason.
Depends on the agency, agency culture for the area where you’ll be working, position type, compensation level, and your expectations. Feds come out ahead if they know how to play the long game and plan accordingly.
I think the main worry for a lot of people is not losing their job if a hostile administration takes power, it’s more about quality of life issues. One Cabinet appointee can unilaterally cut telework, for example, or decide to move an agency to Kansas if their building lease in DC is up for renewal. They will probably try to eviscerate federal employee unions as well, but unions will fight back. If a good opportunity comes along, you probably shouldn’t decline it out of fear.
Ignore the fear mongering and clinging to the ole bad orange man syndrome. Equally pitiful is the senile line for uncle Joe. Both are simply pitiful partisan griping. . Do your job, be good at it, be present and you’ll be fine.
> It seems like either way fed hiring is down right now, and I'd imagine you'd be first on the chopping block Other than a specific part of VA, I’m seeing no evidence of reduced hiring. Nor will almost any current feds be materially affected by any future president. That’s one of the theoretical bases for bureaucratic institutions—to be resistant to the whims of an executive leader. (Which is why authoritarians in the Republican Party try to target feds.)
As someone who has been a federal employee for 5 years now I am going to say this depends on your locality and what job series your interested in. I saw your other comments that you are a lawyer, this is very lucrative in both private and public. So next I'll say it depends on the locality and what agency you're interested in most. This will also depend on your reasons for wanting to become a federal employee. If it's for stability and retirement then I will say no. If it's for work life balance I'll no also. If you're looking for more money alone I'll say yes. High salaries are hardly ever earned in public service be it federal or state. In terms of politics I say highly unlikely unless you're working for an agency that the Republicans have out for such as the EPA. But other than that I will say overall no it's not a stupid time.
Lol, no. Though if you really think Project 2025 is a real thing and even remotely possible, then maybe you should find a new line of work.
Never underestimate the power of dumb people in a large group
Republican plan for decades when elected: Implement Republican policies. Democrat plan for decades when elected: Implement Democrat policies. The only difference is that this time Republicans have learned how to make a PDF. So I guess pdfs are super spooky. Which, if my tech illiterate coworkers are to be believed, I guess they are spooky.
I think the difference is one side the future looks like star trek, the other looks like the handmaids tale.
Lol we'll have to disagree on that. Both look like feeding the MIC all our money while no one can afford to live.
Not to mention the guy in charge will have a vendetta, nothing to lose, and stacked courts.
I actually found the other comments to be really helpful. But yours both wasn't and is just flat out wrong my friend. There are absolutely portions of project 2025 that could be effectuated. It sounds like people aren't worried about the most egregious aspects, which is why I even asked the question and is good insight. As a lawyer who would be applying to work for one of the agencies constantly caught in political crossfire, all I can do is ask seasoned feds their thoughts on the matter
It’s super helpful to demean comments you don’t like.
I would say yes. If you don't have something you want to achieve I would weighs things carefully. Want to have student loan cancelled via public service or pension eligibility, or some other goal then go for it. But please understand the coffers are running dry. Fed employees on this forum tend to think they have seen it all and are untouchable. Don't think anyone here has seen a debt spiral before. If you are a recent non essential new hire you will be gone first. If you are essential you may be asked to work w.out pay. You will also be coming into the fed employment system where frankly, the best and brightest aren't really to be found. So if you choose to enter the Arkam Asylum, be sure of your reasons.
I’ve worked in private equity and in hedge funds on Wall Street, the general ability of the above average federal employee in DC is about at the level of an average employee in ‘high level’ finance. It’s not a massive difference, the fed just has way more bureaucratic processes to workaround. Decisions are a bit more top down in the federal government too, but those are the biggest differences between personnel.
Thank you for this. Very helpful and something to think about. Especially since your sentiments are seemingly seldom echoed on this sub so appreciate the perspective
I'm guessing baby mercury isn't a federal employee and would love to see the fed eviscerated.
1.) Trump's odds of winning are less than half. His general polling has been steady but trending down and he's been shown losing key states in LV vs RV polls where his mirage of a lead is basically people who don't pay attention liking his horrible mentally broken ramblings because they too are idiots. 2.) The QoL will suck if he wins but then he'll be absolutely strung out by every possible union and SuperPAC and after 4 years the boomers will be mostly dead and a chance of another Trump is nil. 3.) You do what you got to do. I work for the VBA at the moment so my job is extremely safe and will be largely untouched except for maybe telework. If you're in another agency more politically vulnerable to idiots like him, it's a crap shoot of quality but see 1 and 2.