The Abrupt End of a Dream: Young Federal Workers Caught in the Crosshairs of Government Downsizing

A Sudden and Disheartening End to Public Service

Alex Brunet, a 23-year-old recent graduate of Northwestern University, had just begun his journey in public service when his world was turned upside down. After landing a prestigious position as an honors paralegal at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Brunet was abruptly fired just 15 minutes before he was set to meet his girlfriend for dinner on the eve of Valentine’s Day. The termination email he received that night was part of a wave of rapid firings under the Trump administration, targeting young federal workers like Brunet. “It’s discouraging to all of us,” Brunet said. “We’ve lost, for now at least, the opportunity to do something that matters.”

Brunet’s story is not unique. Many young federal employees, eager to contribute to the public good, have seen their careers derailed by the administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy. These early career workers, often in probationary roles, were among the first to be let go. The Presidential Management Fellows Program, a highly competitive two-year training program for recent graduates, was also eliminated, leaving many young professionals who had chosen public service over lucrative private-sector jobs feeling betrayed and uncertain about their future.

The Outsized Impact on Young Workers and the Future of Civil Service

The Trump administration’s cuts have had a disproportionate effect on young workers. Many of those terminated were probationary employees who had been on the job for less than a year or two. These early career workers are part of a demographic that is already underrepresented in the federal workforce. According to data from the Office of Personnel Management, only about 9% of federal employees are under the age of 30, and the largest group of workers with less than a year of service are 25- to 29-year-olds. This systemic challenge in recruiting and retaining young talent has been exacerbated by the recent wave of firings.

Experts warn that these cuts could have long-term consequences for the federal government’s ability to attract and retain skilled workers. Young employees bring fresh perspectives, technical expertise, and the ability to tackle complex challenges in fields like information technology, medicine, and environmental protection. “What I am very afraid of is that we will lose an entire generation of younger workers who are either highly trained or would have been highly trained and equipped to help the government,” said Donald F. Kettl, a former dean at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. “The implications are huge.”

The administration’s downsizing efforts have also sent a discouraging message to young people considering careers in public service. “They’re going after what may be easiest to get rid of rather than what is actually going to make our government more efficient,” said Max Stier, president of the Partnership for Public Service. The loss of these early-career workers could create a talent gap that will be difficult to fill in the years to come.

The Abrupt and Often Cruel Nature of the Firings

The terminations have been carried out with little warning and often with no explanation. Young workers described receiving terse emails or messages informing them of their termination, sometimes citing performance issues that they disputed. Many were given no chance to appeal or even discuss their situations with their supervisors. Alexander Hymowitz, a 29-year-old Presidential Management Fellow at the Agriculture Department, was fired after six months on the job. He was told that his performance did not demonstrate that his “further employment at the agency would be in the public interest.” Hymowitz, who had worked on antitrust cases and investigations, was dumbfounded. “How could I get terminated for performance when I’ve never had a performance review?” he asked.

The abrupt nature of the firings has left many young workers scrambling to navigate the emotional and practical fallout. Nicole Cabañez, a 30-year-old honors attorney at the CFPB, found out she was terminated when she couldn’t log into her work laptop. She had been investigating companies that violated consumer financial laws and was eager to make a difference through her work. “I was prepared to help make the world better,” she said. “It’s honestly very disappointing that I never got that chance.”

The impact of these firings extends beyond Washington, D.C. Federal workers in Republican-led states and other parts of the country have also been affected. Ashlyn Naylor, a 24-year-old technician for the U.S. Forest Service in Georgia, was fired after nine months on the job. She had always dreamed of working for the agency and described her termination as a devastating blow. “It would be really hard to trust the federal government if I were to go back,” she said. Naylor, who cleared walking trails in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, is now considering a career change, possibly becoming a welder. “I’m still young enough to do something else,” she said.

The Defense of Downsizing and the Uncertain Road Ahead

The Trump administration has defended its efforts to shrink the federal workforce as part of a broader effort to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. “President Trump returned to Washington with a mandate from the American people to bring about unprecedented change in our federal government,” said Harrison Fields, a White House spokesman. The administration has also enlisted the help of billionaire Elon Musk, who has been tasked with finding ways to reduce the size of the federal government.

However, the legality of some of these actions has been called into question. In February, a federal judge ruled that directives from the Office of Personnel Management ordering the termination of probationary employees were illegal. The agency has since revised its guidance, but it remains unclear how many workers could be reinstated. The administration’s efforts to reduce the workforce have also faced resistance in court, where some of its actions have been blocked or delayed.

Despite the challenges, the administration has pressed ahead with its plans to overhaul the federal bureaucracy. The impact of these changes will likely be felt for years to come, both in terms of the talent and expertise available to the government and in the willingness of young workers to pursue careers in public service.

The Personal Cost of a Broken System

The stories of these young federal workers paint a vivid picture of the personal and professional toll of the administration’s downsizing efforts. Many of those who were fired had chosen public service over more lucrative opportunities in the private sector, driven by a desire to make a difference in the world. Nicole Cabañez, for example, had plans to work at a large law firm after graduating from Yale Law School, where she could have earned a high salary defending corporations. Instead, she chose to work at the CFPB, where she could use her legal skills to help people. “I was prepared to help make the world better,” she said. “It’s honestly very disappointing that I never got that chance.”

The emotional impact of these terminations cannot be overstated. Many workers described feeling a sense of anger, betrayal, and disillusionment. Alexander Hymowitz, who was fired after six months at the Agriculture Department, said he was still trying to make sense of what had happened. “My initial thought was, obviously something is wrong,” he said. “How could I get terminated for performance when I’ve never had a performance review?” Hymowitz, who had been working on important cases, was left feeling confused and demoralized. He decided to walk into the office the next day to return his work equipment, he said, because “I just assumed that’s what people do when they get fired.”

The personal stories of these young workers also highlight the systemic challenges facing the federal government as it tries to recruit and retain young talent. “They’re going after what may be easiest to get rid of rather than what is actually going to make our government more efficient,” said Max Stier, president of the Partnership for Public Service. The loss of these early-career workers could have long-term consequences for the government’s ability to tackle complex challenges and innovate in critical areas like technology and public health.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Public Service in an Era of Uncertainty

Despite the setbacks, some young workers remain committed to public service. Jesus Murillo, a 27-year-old who was fired from his position as a Presidential Management Fellow at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, said he would still work for the federal government again. “For us, it’s not a partisan thing,” Murillo said. “We’re there to carry out the mission, which is to be of service to the American public.” Murillo, who grew up working in fields to help his family make ends meet and later stood in food bank lines, was driven by a desire to help low-income communities. “I’ve put so much into this because I want to be a public leader,” he said. “To now figure out that my government tells me that my job is useless—I think that was just a smack in the face.”

However, not all young workers are as determined to continue in public service. Nicole Cabañez, who is now applying for jobs at nonprofits, public interest law firms, and local governments, worries about the crowded job market in Washington. “I could not file for unemployment benefits for three weeks because my agency had not sent me all of the necessary documents until recently,” she said. Ashlyn Naylor, who is considering a career as a welder, said she would find it hard to trust the federal government again. “It would be really hard to trust the federal government if I were to go back,” she said.

The stories of these young federal workers serve as a cautionary tale about the human cost of arbitrary downsizing and the potential long-term consequences for the federal workforce. As the government continues to grapple with the challenges of recruiting and retaining young talent, the experiences of these workers highlight the need for a more thoughtful and sustainable approach to managing the federal bureaucracy. The future of public service depends on it.