'A Poverty Sentence'—Here's Why Some Say Losing A Federal Job Is Worse Than Being Fired In The Private Sector

Losing a job is never easy, but for many federal workers, getting fired comes with unique challenges that make it even harder to bounce back. Unlike in the private sector, where employees can often pivot to similar roles at different companies, federal jobs come with specialized skills that don't always translate to industry positions. 

Since President Donald Trump took office, more than 200,000 federal workers across more than a dozen agencies have lost their jobs as part of sweeping cuts.

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More Than Just a Job Loss

A recent Reddit post highlighted the struggles of federal employees facing layoffs, sparking a discussion on how their unique roles make reentering the workforce especially difficult. And with the recent wave of federal layoffs, many workers are finding themselves not just jobless but also facing backlash from their own families and communities.

For decades, federal jobs have been seen as stable, even if they don't always pay as well as private-sector positions. Employees trade higher salaries for benefits, pensions, and job security. But with mass layoffs hitting government agencies, that stability is gone—and many workers are struggling to find a path forward.

“Some government positions don't have any sort of industry equivalent. Once that knowledge is gone, it's gone forever,” one Reddit user pointed out. Many federal jobs, particularly in research, technology, and regulatory roles, have no direct counterparts in private companies. Without government funding, the expertise built over years could be lost entirely.

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Another challenge is networking. In the private sector, employees often build relationships across different companies, making it easier to transition if they lose a job. But in government, networking often stays within federal circles, limiting outside opportunities.

"The biggest issue is that the vast majority of federal employees don't make networking connections with other companies," one worker explained. "We have to start from scratch." This problem is even worse for older employees, who find themselves competing with younger candidates with more private-sector experience. “Those not yet in a position to retire but old enough where it's going to be extremely difficult to restart, it can be a virtual poverty sentence.”

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A Political and Personal Divide

The layoffs aren't just affecting workers' careers—they're straining relationships, too. Some former employees expected sympathy from family and friends but instead found support for the job cuts.

Luke Tobin, a former U.S. Forest Service technician, was shocked when relatives reacted to his firing by calling it a necessary move to “make the government great again.” He told the Associated Press that instead of offering help, some told him his job loss was justified.

“I’ve been treated as a public enemy by the government, and now it's bleeding into my own family,” Tobin said.

Kristin Jenn, whose National Park Service job offer was rescinded due to a hiring freeze, has faced a similar struggle. Some conservative family members unfriended her on social media and refused to offer support.

"My life is disintegrating because I can't work in my chosen field," she told AP. "Lump on top of that no support from family—it hits you very hard."

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Struggling to Start Over

Beyond the personal toll, many former federal workers are running into serious financial issues. Health insurance is a major concern, with many scrambling to fill prescriptions before their coverage runs out. Others are facing major pay cuts as they try to find work outside the government.

One Reddit user, a GS-13 federal employee, noted that in the private sector, they'd likely take a 45% to 50% pay cut.

For some, the situation is even more dire. "If my job/industry gets cut completely, there will be nothing in the private sector to go to. The private sector counterparts go hand in hand with my job. I will have to start over," another worker said.

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Long-Term Impact on the Government and the Country

The effects of these layoffs won't just impact workers—they could also weaken government agencies for years to come. With fewer experienced employees, agencies may struggle to function effectively. In many cases, the government may have to spend even more money hiring outside contractors to fill the gaps.

“The damages being done to the civil service now will have a long-term impact on American competitiveness,” one Reddit user warned. “Incapable and insufficiently staffed federal agencies won’t be effective unless a large amount of money is spent again on contractors to provide the same citizen services being dismantled.”

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