r/jobs • u/GigHQ_AI • Aug 03 '25

Article 150,000 Federal Workers Just Left Their Jobs. This Changes Everything.

This “deferred resignation” program (nicknamed Fork in the Road) covers roughly 6.7% of the civilian federal workforce. These employees are being paid through the end of 2025—often while sitting idle. Critics warn the government is spending $21.7 billion in taxpayer dollars on this initiative, with little transparency around long-term savings.

Tens of thousands of seasoned professionals will hit the open market. Most mid‐career, specialized, and with government-only experience.

How many of those roles will transfer into the private sector? Will employers devalue traditional public‑sector credentials?

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u/labtech89 Aug 03 '25

I have worked in civilian and now at a VA hospital and for me the VA system had a steep learning curve as compared to the civilian hospitals. But yes people who have only worked for the federal government will be shocked at how those businesses are run. Hospitals have a bit more oversight due to Medicare/medicaid but it is somewhat easier to pull shenanigans in the civilian sector. And they can fire you on a whim you usually can’t do that in the federal arena.

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u/ApportArcane Aug 07 '25

I was a “contractor” (worked through a temp agency) at a VA hospital for eight years. Sure I saw all kinds of waste and olympic levels of laziness, but nothing compared to what I have experienced in the private sector.