Survey Finds 95% of 300 Laid-Off Federal Workers Report Mental Health Harm
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 3
Survey Finds 95% of 300 Laid-Off Federal Workers Report Mental Health Harm
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 3
Summary
More than 300 fired probationary federal employees said job loss under the Trump administration caused ongoing mental health effects, with nearly half reporting PTSD-like symptoms.
The survey by 27UNIHTED, a network of former NIH employees, found a quarter of respondents had started taking new medication to manage those symptoms.
Respondents came from 43 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands and had worked across 12 departments and 15 agencies, bureaus and subgroups.
Those workers represent a small slice of the more than 300,000 federal employees laid off or pushed to resign or retire since Trump began his second term, including over 25,000 fired during probationary periods.
When firings are ruled unlawful but not reversed, what is next for the US civil service?
Fallout of the 2025 Federal Workforce Reductions: Mental Health Crisis, Agency Disarray, and Long-Term Threats to Public Health and Research
Overview
The 2025 federal workforce reductions led to widespread unemployment and ongoing mental health challenges for former federal employees. Many are still struggling to find new jobs as of early 2026, facing a tough job market where some have submitted over 100 applications without success. This prolonged unemployment and difficult job search have caused increased stress, anxiety, and depression among those affected. The crisis highlights how the job cuts not only created financial hardship but also triggered a significant mental health burden, showing the deep and lasting impact of these workforce reductions on individuals and their families.