06/01/2025

Supporting Young People Seeking Federal Careers

By David J. Smith

The most recent employment data reveals there are just over three million civilian federal workers or 1.87% of the workforce (Beshay, 2025).  As of January 20, 2025, there is a federal workforce hiring freeze (Ingle, 2025).  Anyone based in Washington, DC - as I am - can see the effects of the Trump Administration’s reductions in programs, grants, aid, and most importantly the federal workforce. As a career coach, a large portion of my clientele consists of those in or seeking federal service or with organizations that receive funds that implement government objectives and are now finding their jobs changed or eliminated. As a college professor, I am supporting students who are now reconsidering their federal career goals. Many are crushed by what is taking place.

To have a career upended after a lifetime of service is heartbreaking. This typically was a phenomenon of the private sector when companies would merge, reorganize, or go bankrupt. Like workers in other sectors, federal workers are dedicated and proud. They often intentionally select government service because they want to support values-based objectives, such as guarding natural resources, providing food and health assistance to children in need, or ensuring that Americans are safe during and after a natural disaster. Former US President George H.W. Bush called public service “a noble calling” (The Bush School, 2015). 

Called to Federal Work

One example of a proud federal worker is my son.  Like many students, he participated in study abroad as an undergraduate, spending a semester in Istanbul. Then he joined the Peace Corps, spending 27 months teaching mathematics in Namibia. For the past four years, he has worked at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He is value-driven and environmental protection is important to him as is environmental justice. At the end of a day, he feels he has done meaningful work to make communities safer and more habitable. We are all beneficiaries of his efforts at the EPA.

Encouraging Others to Seek a Noble Calling

Despite the turbulent times, career development professionals can nurture, support, and advance young people seeking federal work now – albeit with some caution. The following tips regarding availability, openness, and preparation can be helpful. 

1. Federal Careers Will Still Be Available, But the Available Areas Will Change

Despite the current reduction in the labor force, the federal government will not go away. Opportunities will still exist for those aspiring to work for the nation. There will likely be considerable realignment, however. For instance, those interested in work in international development at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will have a hard time because the agency has been reduced drastically. USAID has merged with the U.S. Department of State, which is now also subject to reorganization on a major scale. Just the same, American diplomacy will still be needed. As such, someone interested in international development might shift to looking at diplomacy.

As the emphasis with the Trump Administration continues with managing immigration both legal and illegal, positions with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will be in need. In addition, a focus on the law enforcement and intelligence fields will continue. So even though the FBI, for instance, might see a short-term reduction in force, positions will most likely be available in the future in federal law enforcement.

Overall, encourage those pursuing federal work to be aware of the Trump Administration priorities to identify employment opportunities as well to avoid the fields with fewer opportunities. To stay abreast of changes, job seekers and career development professionals should closely watch what is officially reported. Learning how to manage USAJOBS.gov, the portal for finding federal work, is not wasted time.

2. State and Local Government Work Can Precede Federal Service

As the coming period will see a curtailment in federal government positions, waiting in the wings in a state or local position can be an effective strategy.

Often, other levels of government work are overlooked.  In our system of federalism, the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and territories perform many of the same functions as the federal government (except for international affairs). For instance, though the National Park Service may reduce its workforce at the federal level, there will still be a need for park rangers at state parks.  One might look at state forestry agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources, the agency in Maryland. Several states including New York, Hawaii, Virginia, Maryland, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania have developed specific strategies to attract potential workers to state service who might have sought work in the federal government. 

Local governments, especially larger cities and counties, also perform many of the same functions as federal and state governments. So again, encourage those interested in the federal government to consider local government options.

3. A Career Bouncing from Federal to Other Sectors is Typical and Will Continue

Though federal service might be the goal, job seekers might consider numerous not-for-profits, policy organizations, advocacy groups, and think tanks that support and study federal policies. These groups are often not federally funded and thus might not be impacted significantly by the current funding reductions. These entities are sometimes considered “watch dogs” that monitor, support, and often criticize federal government actions. Washington, DC, careers are often characterized by bouncing back and forth between outside entities and the federal government.

The private sector, of course, can also be preparatory for federal work. Private companies are often supplying the federal government with products or services as consultants. In the past, major consulting firms like Deloitte and McKinsey took on government contracts and needed to hire staff as a result. There is also the entire system of so-called “beltway bandits,” private corporations that consult for the military and other government agencies. Obtaining work here is often dependent on extensive networking including leveraging prior experiences such as being a military veteran.  An experience at such a group can provide the credentials for later pursuing government work (Snider, 2024). 

4. Preparing for Government Service by Pursuing Other Opportunities and Education

There are strategies that can be pursued until federal opportunities open again.  Some of these are volunteer based and provide experiences that offer insight into government operations and allow a worker to develop networks. Urban planning and regional development groups might offer jobs to those interested in economic development, construction, lending, and related fields. (Two past excellent options were the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, but both are part of the federal government, so they might be subject to cutbacks). 

Finally, education and training can be beneficial as workers wait for more federal opportunities to present themselves. Encourage students to carefully select a degree with the understanding that connecting some degrees directly to federal work (e.g. international development) may affect employment options. Getting relevant training related to the needs of many different employers, particularly technology-based areas such as artificial intelligence, may enhance a student’s candidacy for future employment in the federal government.

Change is Constant

Professional help is available to assist those in career transition. The National Career Development Association (NCDA) offers a list of professionals willing to provide pro bono services to displaced workers (NCDA, 2025). NCDA also offers a free recorded webinar about supporting these workers, which includes a list of resources. Even former government workers are finding new ways to help each other, such as the recently launched website, FormerGov.com (Newhouse, 2025).

It is a time of much change in federal work. For the short term, workers who are strategic and planful may still be able to find the career they seek. A federal career can still be obtained by keeping long term goals in mind.

References

Beshay. (2025, January 7). What the data says about federal workers. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/07/what-the-data-says-about-federal-workers/#how-many-federal-workers-are-there 

Ingle, D. (2025, January 20). Hiring freeze – the white house. The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/hiring-freeze/ 

NCDA. (2025). List of members offering pro bono career services to displaced federal workers. https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sd/news_article/586831/_blank/layout_details/false 

Newhouse, S. M. (2025). Ex-feds launch websites to help unemployed civil servants find new jobs. Government Executive. https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/04/ex-feds-launch-websites-help-unemployed-civil-servants-find-new-jobs/404825/ 

Snider, A. (2023, November 5). From “beltway bandits” to mission partners". Federal News Network. https://federalnewsnetwork.com/commentary/2024/11/from-beltway-bandits-to-mission-partners/ 

The Bush School of Government & Public Service. (2015, May 7). Public Service is a Noble Calling. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pD0JpnXHws 

David J. Smith is Washington, DC based career coach and adjunct professor at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Studies at George Mason University.  He is the author of the Peace Jobs: A Student’s Guide to Starting a Career Working for Peace (IAP 2016).  He can be reached at davidjsmith@davidjsmithconsulting.com.