Context:

A year after aggressive cuts to the federal workforce under President Trump's administration, many former employees, including Chantel Williams, faced uncertainty and disruption. The Department of Government Efficiency's actions led to the largest reduction in federal jobs in history, with about 352,000 employees leaving, prompting initiatives like Work for America, a nonprofit aimed at helping displaced federal workers find state and local government roles. Despite significant placements, the ongoing demand for employment remains high, as many former workers continue to struggle with unemployment. Looking ahead, the Civic Match platform is set to introduce new features to better connect job seekers with opportunities.

Dive Deeper:

• Chantel Williams, a former GSA employee, experienced turmoil as her agency faced cuts, ultimately opting for deferred resignation amidst widespread layoffs.

• The U.S. Office of Personnel Management reported that over 123,000 federal workers accepted deferred resignations in 2025 as part of a push for a smaller government.

• Caitlin Lewis founded Work for America in November 2024 to assist former federal workers in transitioning to local government roles, with the organization growing from two to fifteen employees in a year.

• Work for America has successfully placed nearly 200 job seekers, mostly former federal employees, and has seen over 12,800 sign-ups for its Civic Match platform since Trump's election.

• Nate Haight, a former USAID employee, transitioned to a grants administrator role in Indiana through Civic Match after his position was cut, highlighting the competitive job market for ex-federal workers.

• Hope Rahill, a former political appointee, noted that while the organization has had success, many former federal employees still face unemployment or underemployment nearly a year after the layoffs.

• Civic Match plans to enhance its platform with AI features and improved job targeting to better assist former federal employees in finding new roles.