Federal Worker Survey Shows Widespread Desire to Leave Public Service

A July survey by the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) reveals that nearly two-thirds of U.S. federal workers would not enter public service again. This decline in sentiment follows a series of 2025 executive orders from Donald Trump designed to reduce the size of the government by slashing jobs, freezing civilian hiring, and weakening civil service protections.

Employee dissatisfaction was exacerbated by a record 43-day government shutdown in late 2025, which resulted in furloughs and left essential workers without pay. These events, combined with a 2024 Congressional Budget Office report noting that federal employees earn significantly less than their private-sector counterparts, have eroded the traditional appeal of government employment.

John Hatton, a NARFE official, stated that the erosion of nonpartisan professional service and the lack of competitive monetary rewards could hinder future recruitment. He warned that the inability to attract skilled professionals due to a changing organizational culture would be detrimental to the provision of public services for Americans.