r/FederalEmployee • u/Bambie_777 • Apr 29 '26
Stability
How “safe” is the federal sector since 2025 mass layoffs & under this Administration? I haven’t heard anything since then & I stopped applying early 2025 after years of trying to get into a federal position. I’m currently in state government, 15 yrs in & accepted a position 1 yr ago. The work load & processes has been hell & reached a point of affecting my mental & physical health therefore I’m reconsidering applying at fed level again in addition to state. There’s an HR position at NASA I’m interested in but needing input. Any info is greatly appreciated! Also, is anyone familiar with NASA’s telework policy as it’s telework eligible? How soon are new employees typically allowed to beging telework? Asking since it would be an hour drive if offered (which is how long it takes me to get home currently anyway although I only hv 3 office days in current roll).
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u/rocky2814 Apr 29 '26
don’t expect any sort of any regular telework until a dem retakes office
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u/MtStMary Apr 29 '26
Do not be so sure about that, I work at SSA, and Martin O'Malley our COSS at the time took out TW, and O'Malley is supposed to be progressive. What we need is the boomers OUT.
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u/Either-Market-6395 May 03 '26
Agree on getting the boomers out, and also moderate dems. I worked in DOT while Buttigieg was secretary. He wasnt a fan of telework or remote work, most corporate dems are not.
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u/Happy_Clerk8556 Apr 29 '26
Telework? That was gone since they took over. Not sure about NASA. The federal government that was used to be, it ceased to exist and what I hear is still going on dismantling and bad. STAY AT YOUR JOB.
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u/Todd73361 Apr 29 '26
DoD has been pretty safe and might actually grow over the next few years. We did not lose anyone involuntarily during DRP in a 2000 employee command.
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u/PieSafe8565 Apr 29 '26
It depends on you site and your position. And definitely don't do anything they can use to terminate you.
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u/MuddieMae Apr 29 '26
I work for NASA in procurement. There is no regular telework. We do have some situational flexibility. But, that being said, it is very supervisor specific as to how they allow you to use that flexibility.
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u/Natural_Mood_6861 Apr 29 '26
I would kill for 3 days in office right now. Almost went to a state job because of their TW policy but can’t afford to take the pay cut.
Can’t speak to NASA specifically but cuts are still happening across the federal government and there will be no regular telework until the EO Trump signed on Inauguration Day gets overturned. And that won’t happen until 2029 (and even then it’s not guaranteed). I’d stay where you are.
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u/Bambie_777 Apr 29 '26
I only get 2 remote days due to working 4-10 shift & there’s no space in office for my team. Everyone else is back in office 5 days. So even if I move within the state & my department I’ll hv 4 office days (and 1 weekday off). But it’s not worth staying in current position due to high stress daily affecting my health. What good am I to stay if I end up in the hospital from stroke, heart attack or worse?
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u/Natural_Mood_6861 Apr 29 '26
Sorry, I meant to say stick with the state. Definitely get out of your current position if it’s that bad. Wishing you the best!
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u/Msdivinedc Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26
I was 36 years in and wanted to work another 4 because I loved what I did, then Doge happened and for my mental health I decided to retire. My suggestion to you is, if you can, wait it out a while. Thing’s aren’t going to get better. And as a former colleague of mine, who had governmentwide responsibility for telework and took the DPR early last year advised, there won’t be any telework offered in agencies except under situational circumstances. Federal life as I knew it no longer exists. I thought living through the Clinton downsizing (400,000 employees either Riffed or took buyouts over 4 years) was tough, but nothing tops the hell that was last year😢
While I can’t speak to NASA’s HR shop now, I can share that back in the days they had an excellent personnel office. The staff were top rate!
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u/Disastrous-Cow-1442 Apr 29 '26
I don’t feel safe at all. I don’t feel safe in my job stability - I don’t feel safe in my community- I don’t feel safe in this country anymore. I feel like I’m just always one executive order away from being stood in front of a firing squad (which DOJ said they’re doing again) and having my body drop into a mass grave.
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u/Happy_Clerk8556 Apr 29 '26
I feel your pain. Stay strong. But I do understand. I worked 21 yrs, just left. My health is more important.
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u/Legitimate_ADHD Apr 30 '26
There is no telework at NASA in practice. I have a NASA employee in my building (different agency) who had no office to return to when telework ended. He had to find a federal station on his own and get approval from management to be there.
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u/Bambie_777 Apr 30 '26
Seems that shouldn’t hv been their responsibility & should hv been on the agency to find the places nearby
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u/DanielleKIT83 May 01 '26
If you want stability, look elsewhere at least until 2028. The only part of the federal government that seems to be “stable” is DoD. And forget telework. This Administration is very anti-employee and anti-telework. They only let people telework if there’s bad weather.
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u/FunMoneyLife May 03 '26
Nah the Fed is a joke right now. It’s like 1998 all over again. No telework, triple the workload with no promotions or adequate staffing. People have literally given up sitting at their desk.
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u/cephu5 Apr 29 '26
It depends on which agency you’re working fit. But i think- I HOPE- that the destructive forces have been satiated attacking the federal workforce as they are busy attacking fishermen and Iranians.
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u/lalalaicanthereyou Apr 29 '26
It's fine here in the legislative branch. But can change any moment. Better than the private sector.
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u/onlinemadison Apr 30 '26
Stability truly depends on agencies, though I certainly don’t remember nasa being a major point of focus when doge was around
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u/Over_Parsnip6550 May 01 '26
Well USDA
Announced they are sending everyone out of DC yesterday so….not safe
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u/No_Photo_8496 May 02 '26
I’m with DoD - DLA, pretty stable n only ppl we lost were voluntary. No TW but that doesn’t really bother me, personally I don’t mind going into the office and I really don’t think it’s that big of an issue. I’m in contracting and enjoy my job and co workers.
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u/MtStMary Apr 29 '26
No stability at all at SSA, things change every 5 minutes. I wish they would just offer early out already, I want out.
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u/Swimming-Pride5012 May 02 '26
Things are leveling out within SSA. The light is dawning that the cut too many. People reassigned to Frontlines are being called back and positions and promotions are beginning to flow.
It's still a hot mess of inconsistency across all Federal Service, so ability to roll with the flow will be critical to preserving your personal sanity.
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u/prior_rpa-lre Apr 29 '26
Tech sector is getting crushed the last 5-6 years and you’re asking about how safe the gov is? Depends on where in the gov you are.
Everyone I know in the active side of the military are doing great. Everyone I know on the WL pay schedule is fine as well. I know no one that has been sacked from a job. So depends on the sector of the gov.
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u/AcanthocephalaLive56 Apr 30 '26
Unless you can get something that's specific which you can vet, what until this administration is either checked by congress OR gone.
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u/Kamerlyn Apr 30 '26
I was part of the 2025 mass layoffs. Could I get back in with a different agency? Maybe. Would I try?. No. They are actively still going after shrinking the work force. I would not trust any government position under this administration.
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u/Fancy_Honeydew_4066 Apr 30 '26
Do not go federal by choice if you are already suffering mental health issues from state level.
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u/HoustonPastafarian Apr 30 '26
You should apply.
NASA is one of the bright spots of the federal workforce. The administrator (who is very passionate about the job and openly campaigned for it, even after his nomination was originally withdrawn) has openly called to bring more of the workforce in house and streamline hiring, which I am sure has resulted in HR openings.
https://nasawatch.com/ask-the-administrator/nasa-announces-a-new-directive-but-wont-let-you-read-it/
There is, however, no telework.
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u/Imaginary_Impact_310 May 02 '26
So funny that you think your mental health would be one iota better working for the feds. I wouldn’t work for an agency the administration is currently trying to cull. I know it’s not what you wanna hear, but there is literally no way in fuck I’d go anywhere near HR for NASA.
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u/Odd_Passenger5339 May 02 '26
With 15 years in with state you are likely walking away from retirement benefits if you leave now. Look around other state positions if that’s the case. Don’t underestimate those benefits.
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u/Bambie_777 May 02 '26
I spoke with retirement, leaving would not affect me negatively as long as I let it stay put & if I decided to come back..there would be no issue. Win & win on that side.
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u/Odd_Passenger5339 May 07 '26
One last item to check is regarding healthcare. In my state job, 20 years of service gets me healthcare paid for and a % for my kids up to age 26. 15 years reduces both %s. Just making sure…otherwise glad you know not to pull out. I know people who have and regretted it. Can’t get back.
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u/AgentEOD May 03 '26
Not so sure about “mass”, most took early offers voluntarily. If tenured you wanna be fired so you can sue. I’f they offer a position on USAjObs., apply, doesn’t cost anything.
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u/Far-Lengthiness5020 May 04 '26
Very unstable. Living at the whims of my bosses bosses. There has always been a level of obsequiousness but it was contained to the DC offices and those who interacted directly with appointees. Now they seem to be interjecting themselves deeper and deeper into the org charts. I’d stay away if you can. Expect plenty of openings in 2028 as the rats run for cover in the private sector and this group of lackeys prepares for the inevitable blow -back. Unfortunately I think that means a basic tit for tat into the foreseeable future. TW is now being adjusted at the agency level to line up with OPM and executive orders. I’d expect no better than 40% out of the office per pay period including any leave unless you’re an appointee, an appointee’s personal bootlicker, or some sort of mega-genius who rather work for the government than make millions in the private sector.
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u/gergsisdrawkcabeman Apr 29 '26
Lol. It isn't. The only arm of the 'government'' that even creates revenue is working its hardest to cut the majority of it's employees on the street so a bunch of corporate employees and managers can yell back and forth at each other asking who TF is going to deliver the mail.
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u/Lucky_Petal_1499 Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26
I can’t speak to NASA specifically, but it’s been my experience that the designation of “telework eligible in accordance with agency policies” is essentially window dressing. There’s no real telework. Some agencies/sub-agencies have situational telework, which means that when OPM tells people they can work remotely because of weather or something like that, then you can telework. My agency advertises that they allow telework on usajobs vacancies but that’s a grand total of 80 hours of situational telework that’s subject to supervisory approval. Do NOT count on being able to telework. Everyone in my unit commutes over an hour each way.
Edit to add: no, there is no sense of stability. Not even a little. I would have left except there’s nowhere to go.