Hearing from federal government employees as they make sense of their future

After an extension, on Monday we again face an impossible decision: Take the so-called “buyout” now, or stay and risk being pushed out later—working in an environment of fear, uncertainty, loyalty tests and where our public mission is treated with contempt, or, at best, an afterthought.

That so many of us will choose to stay, despite everything, speaks to the power of public service.

Let’s be clear—this choice is a manufactured one, with incentives and threats intended to make us forget why and who we serve.