Scrolling through Fed Reddit, I came across a statement that stopped me in my tracks:
“Seeing Americans support the traumatization of feds has changed me.”
The responses were even harder to read. Federal workers, public servants are not just losing their jobs. They’re losing their faith in the country they swore to serve. 
This is more than job cuts. This is a psychological breaking point.
“I Used to Believe in the Mission. Now I Just Feel Hated.”
“Before this administration, I was friendly toward my fellow Americans. But DOGE’s actions are beyond ruthless. I’ve seen layoffs before, but never this cruel. It’s relentless.”
“All Elon has done is try to make humans miserable. Federal employees make up 3% of the budget. Yet he is harassing, trying to traumatize, and bragging about how miserable he makes ‘bureaucrats’ the people keeping your water safe, tracking wildfires, preventing financial disasters.”
“These people aren’t villains. But the hatred against us is real.”
For decades, the federal workforce represented stability, purpose, and service. People didn’t join for the pay, they joined because they believed in serving their country.
Now? They’re being villainized.
From Public Servants to Political Scapegoats
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was supposed to streamline bureaucracy. Instead, it has shattered federal agencies, slashed critical programs, and turned government workers into the enemy.
“I’m a 60-year-old woman with a 70-year-old husband and a brother with autism. Now I’m the enemy? I’m ‘ripping off the taxpayers’ by working every day? By supporting my family? By doing exactly what Congress told me to do? By paying taxes and supporting local businesses?”
“My boss said things would go back to normal soon. How? They’re not paying attention.”
For many, this is not just a layoff, it’s betrayal.
“My sister didn’t even want to hear about my fears of losing my job and my house. She voted for this. She voted to destroy my future, and now she’s talking about building a house on a lake in Texas.”
The disconnect is staggering.
“I Used to Love My Job. Now I Just Want to Get Out.”
The emotional toll is undeniable.
“I finally cracked at work today. Farewell meetings. Managers crying. Saying goodbye to good people. I haven’t cried before this. But man, this is rough.”
“VA telephone operator here. We are the first voices veterans hear when they call. We are already short-staffed. Now we’ve lost three workers. Stress levels are through the roof. I’ve had two breakdowns in the last month.”
“I’m a VA nurse. My veterans have called in scared, asking if we will be there for them. It’s heartbreaking to say, ‘We don’t know, but we’ll stay as long as we can.'”
“I’ve even had veterans tell us they can’t wait for the DOGE cuts and hope nurses are first.”
That last sentence says everything.
The very people who dedicate their lives to serving others are being dehumanized, pushed aside, and told their work doesn’t matter.
Who Are the People We’re Losing?
Americans don’t know what federal workers actually do. When they hear “government employee,” they think IRS agents and bureaucrats pushing papers.
“The public doesn’t understand. They think all government workers are tax auditors. They don’t realize we are:
- Park rangers operating National Parks
- Nurses and doctors at the VA
- NOAA scientists tracking hurricanes and wildfires
- NASA engineers maintaining GPS and satellite communications
- Education officials ensuring states don’t underfund special ed programs
- Food safety inspectors keeping people from getting sick
- Air traffic controllers keeping planes from crashing
“Are these evil bureaucrats who need to be fired? Yet many of them have been in the past month.”
The hate toward federal workers isn’t based on reality, it’s based on decades of misinformation and political scapegoating.
How Did We Get Here?
This didn’t happen overnight. The demonization of federal workers has been decades in the making.
“What I keep seeing is: ‘If you feel sorry for federal employees, why don’t you feel sorry for taxpayers whose money is wasted?’
“Okay, well, my tax dollars are also being spent – without my consent, on subsidizing SpaceX rockets blowing up, Tesla rebates, and carbon credit fraud that benefits Musk’s companies. Yet I’m the one being told I’m wasteful?”
“Elon’s companies have received as much in government subsidies as the entire annual budget of the U.S. Forest Service.”
Federal workers aren’t being punished for inefficiency. They’re being punished for being visible.
Meanwhile, billions continue flowing to private contractors, corporations, and lobbyists without question.
And the hatred keeps growing.
“I’ve learned one lesson after Trump’s second win: The solutions you find depend on the problems you define.”
The problem the public has been sold? “Government is too big.”
The real problem? The people in power are using this excuse to gut public service while enriching themselves.
The Mental Health Crisis No One is Talking About
For those still holding onto their jobs, the stress is unbearable.
“I had a full breakdown at work today.”
“I’ve had random pains in my arm for days. Stress is real.”
“My sister voted for this. I reminded her that her choice has consequences. She didn’t want to hear it.”
The anger is turning into something darker, disillusionment, hopelessness, depression.
“After Iraq, I blamed my fellow Americans for letting Bush win. Even if they weren’t the bad guys, they weren’t doing enough to stop them. It took years of therapy to heal from that anger.”
“I’m praying for you.”
The Breaking Point
The people who dedicated their lives to public service are being told they don’t matter.
Many won’t come back from this.
Many will walk away from government work forever.
And when that happens?
“Who will be left to keep the parks open? To track hurricanes? To care for veterans? To inspect food? To keep air traffic running? Who will do the work no one notices, until it’s gone?”
Federal workers never asked to be heroes.
They just wanted to serve.
Now, they’re being thrown away like they never mattered.
And the saddest part? Most Americans will only notice when it’s too late.
