Federal workforce morale drops as job security and benefits erode

A recent NARFE poll shows nearly two-thirds of current and retired federal employees would avoid public service again, citing shrinking job security and benefits.

According to a July poll conducted by the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, almost 66% of surveyed federal workers—both active and retired—would not choose a government job again, pointing to deteriorating job security and benefits as primary reasons. The sentiment reflects broader concerns about the federal climate rather than regret over entering public service. In 2025, the White House issued executive orders that instituted a civilian hiring freeze and directed agencies to cut staff, while President Trump argued the federal workforce was oversized.

The late-2025 shutdown, the longest in modern history, left essential personnel like air traffic controllers working without pay and many others furloughed, intensifying frustration. Respondents described the environment as hostile, confusing, and lacking basic supplies such as toilet paper and hand soap. NARFE’s vice president of policy and programs, John Hatton, warned that the erosion of nonpartisan, professional service, combined with federal salaries that lag 10% to 30% behind comparable private-sector roles, threatens recruitment and service delivery. He suggested that higher wages and new incentives may be needed to attract skilled professionals to government positions.