The Probationary Project
Fired Federal Probationary Employees Face Financial, Health Struggles and Express Worry About Damage to the Health and Safety of the Nation
In November 2025 probationary employees from HHS decided to create a survey to evaluate the impact of the probationary purge of themselves and colleagues. They connected with probationary employees from across the government, including staff from FWS, NOAA, USAID, NPS, to create a comprehensive survey to evaluate this unique and particular population. The results have been enlightening.
Impacts to the Entire Country and Government Workforce
Careers Halted
Probationary Employees Experienced Career and Personal Devastation
The survey found that 21 percent of fired probationary employees are unemployed and 7 percent are working part-time jobs. More than 70 percent of fired probationary employees filed for unemployment, with 22 percent of those denied benefits by their state governments.
Fired probationary employees also reported significant damage to their career trajectories due to missed professional development opportunities and limited opportunities for employment outside of the federal workforce due to the nature of their work.
Of those who are employed, 49 percent reported earning “significantly lower” salaries, 19 percent reported “lower” salaries, and the remainder reported their salaries stayed the same or increased.
Mental Health Shattered
Six months after their firing, probationary employees reported adverse effects on their mental health. More than 90 percent reported negative symptoms that affected their daily lives and personal wellbeing. A quarter of respondents reported new prescriptions for mental health symptoms, including depression or apathy, sleep disruptions, trouble concentrating, appetite changes, and/or thoughts of suicide. Over half of the respondents reported trauma resulting in physical symptoms, such as those typically accompanying Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The American Public Will Suffer
We also saw serious concerns about adverse effects due to the reduction in force on the federal workforce. A majority of respondents noted that the firings resulted in a greater workload for remaining employees, as well as a loss of young talent.
We Collected over 200 quotes on the impact of job loss on the American Public from those who will know best - the terminated workers
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