The Probationary Project
The Probationary Project is a grassroots survey effort* created and conducted by more than 40 volunteer former probationary employees from across the federal government, some members of 27 UNIHTED and some not. Survey results are hosted by 27 UNIHTED.
Executive Summary and Key Findings
In February 2025, the federal government unlawfully fired thousands of probationary employees across nearly every agency in the Executive Branch. Probationary employees include recently hired or recently promoted workers who have not yet served in their role long enough to receive full civil servant protections. These were not performance-based terminations, although documentation from many probationary workers initially stated otherwise. In September 2025, a federal court ruled the firings unlawful, while also falsely noting that most of these employees had "moved on." This assessment did not align with the reality of many former probationary workers, who had not “moved on.” To better understand what has really happened to terminated probationary workers, a group came together to gather data describing probationary employee experiences from across the federal government. The survey was published on February 14, 2026, one year after the Department of Health and Human Services probationary employee firings.
The survey asks about the impacts respondents believed their terminations had on the American public and the government workforce, levels of communication and transparency regarding these firings, and impacts to respondents’ career trajectories and personal lives.
The survey was not a formal research study and this did not intend to produce generalizable knowledge. Instead, the survey provided an opportunity for volunteers to share their experiences and those of their peers to create insight into the wide-ranging impact of these unlawful firings on respondents and the public.
*Disclaimer: The survey did not request that respondents provide personally identifiable information (PII), and results are published as aggregated responses for each question. Organizers did not verify the identity or status of respondents, and respondents self-selected to participate. No question required an answer. Thus, the total number of respondents varies for each question. Respondents did not receive an incentive to complete the survey; participation was completely voluntary. This is not a research project.
The Probationary Respondents
Three hundred and six total respondents were located across the country in 43 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and had served in agencies and departments across the government. Probationary periods varied from one to three years, and 25% of respondents were reinstated.
Impacts to the American Public
Survey responses were received from individuals across the country who had worked across many government agencies in diverse areas. Collectively, these responses indicate one thing: the loss of these positions will directly and indirectly cause human suffering. The firings resulted in significant impacts on our institutional knowledge in the government workforce as many respondents were federal contractors for years prior to their federal service. Responses showcase that the talent that was lost was highly educated, with most fired employees holding advanced degrees, and the most common education level was attainment of a master’s degree.
Government Transparency
A series of questions focused on the communications respondents received and respondents’ trust of leadership after the unlawful terminations. Only 16% of respondents reported that their agency/department was transparent about the termination and court hearings, and a significant portion of respondents said they did not trust their leadership.
Career-Level Impacts
This survey included questions about respondents’ job search, employment status, and new career salaries to get a sense of their statuses one year later.
The survey found that 21% of respondents remained unemployed as of January 31, 2026, and 7% had part-time jobs. Of those who were employed, 49% reported earning “significantly lower” salaries, 19% reported “lower” salaries, and the remainder reported their salaries stayed the same or increased.
Personal Impacts
This survey also gathered information about the personal repercussions of the firings on respondents, asking about mental health, well being, and financial metrics. Six months after their firing, respondents reported adverse effects on their mental health. More than 90% reported negative symptoms that affected their daily lives and personal wellbeing, including depression or apathy, sleep disruptions, trouble concentrating, appetite changes, and/or thoughts of suicide. More than half of the respondents reported "trauma-like" symptoms.
Conclusions and Next Steps
Overall, responses indicated a lack of support for the government firings by both respondents and their public counterparts, negative shifts in mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing, and mismanagement of the firing process for respondents. Although this survey is not representative of every probationary employee, the results collected point to permanent impacts for the vast majority of these respondents.
Organizers drafted policy recommendations to support their probationary employees.
We encourage you to share the findings of this survey and support the federal workers in your life. Organizers of this survey are more than 40 probationary employees who chose a role in public service and continue to serve the American public in actions like this.
Background
This survey was the product of collaboration by many people and organizations. Read more about the creation of and methods used in the survey.