Thousands of fired federal employees are still unemployed or earning far less than before, according to a new survey examining the aftermath of the Trump administration’s 2025 probationary layoffs. The findings challenge claims that dismissed workers quickly transitioned into higher-paying private-sector jobs. Instead, many former federal employees say they continue facing financial hardship, worsening mental health, and unstable careers more than a year after losing their positions.
The survey, conducted between February and March by former probationary federal employees, collected responses from more than 300 fired workers across 12 federal departments, 43 states, and one U.S. territory. The report was later published by 27 UNIHTED, an organization formed by former National Institutes of Health staff during the second Trump administration.
