Get Wise. Get Rich. Get Out.

2025 is bringing mayhem and disorder to the federal sector in particular.

Introduction

As one would expect, federal civil servant sand, by extension, contractor layoffs have significantly disrupted daily life in the National Capital Region (NCR). Many of my friends and colleagues–veterans and non-veterans, federal and private sector employees–are currently or imminently facing mass lay offs.

It’s the inevitable central focus of every social event, “So, do you still have a job?” “How many people are left at your organization?” “Do you think you’ll be laid off next?” Fortunately, this is usually followed up by support and connecting that person with other organizations that are hiring. After all, professional networking is a favorite past-time of the NCR social scene.

So far, the mass layoffs appear to target probationary employees, indiscriminate of performance and sometimes even the national importance of their mission be it cancer research or nuclear security. Though many have been inexplicably rehired.

Last month it appears at least a few dozen federal probationary employees were rehired at the National Nuclear Security Administration only days after they were fired. The National Nuclear Security Administration is responsible for, among other mission sets, maintaining the U.S.’s nuclear weapons stockpile.

It appears this spring, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is next on the chopping block with an expected 80,000 federal lay offs, roughly 20% of their federal workforce. Many of whose layoffs are expected to be Veterans themselves since roughly 25% of the VA’s workforce are Veterans. Some lay offs have already begun. I have a colleague who just moved his family across the country for a Department of Veterans Affairs civil service position, only to be laid off within weeks after arriving.

Mass layoffs are also sweeping through the tech sector, though that is, by now, more common place since 2022. I have at least one friend who was unemployed for about six weeks after she was laid off from her tech job in January.

All this to say, these are incredibly chaotic, confusing, and challenging times. So, what now?

This week, I wanted to focus on addressing a few questions plaguing many of us, especially Veterans who have dedicated our lives in service to our nation, and especially those Veterans who continue to serve in the federal sector in some capacity.

1. Where can I look for work if I get laid off?
2. What are my healthcare options?
3. How do (should?) I apply for unemployment benefits?
4. What other veteran resources are out there?
5. And for those of you particularly bold, is it time to start my small business?

This is of course a non-exhaustive list.

Managing Mayhem

Falling to the Level of Our Training

First, a few thoughts on managing mayhem.

We do not rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training.

Archilochus, Greek poet, c. 680 – c. 645 BCE

With this quote in mind, as many of us fall to the level of our (military) training, I want to recall three themes from said training: (1) chain of command, (2) espirit de corps, and (3) grit.

Skill #1 – Chain of Command

Remember chain of command.

The chain of command construct was created to manage challenging situations like this–when information is coming at us from all different directions and it’s unclear what signals we must act upon and which ones we must wait. Your chain of command is responsible for interpreting, deconflicting, and providing clarifying and actionable guidance on these signals. This is one of their primary purposes.

This is not a call to check out. We must stay informed so we’re prepared to counsel our leadership when and where appropriate. There is a job to be done at every level, but remember to let your leadership first decide the overall direction before you’re halfway up the wrong mountain.

Skill #2 – Espirit de Corps

Another element of our training was espirit de corps: the sense of unity and camaraderie within one’s organization. Espirit de corps must be built overtime, and in fact, times are hardship are often when espirt de corps grows best. Now is a moment.

Espirit de corps is also about pride: pride in our mission, pride in our institution, and pride in ourselves. This pride is a necessity. This pride is not blindness or tolerance to our faults and weaknesses. In fact, the opposite, this pride is a dedication to taking collective responsibility for those faults and weaknesses and improving a little more every day. This pride is about honoring our nations’ institutions, and representing those institutions with honor. We represent them with honor by living those core values of our own respective, military institutions.

I mean this literally, hold your head up, look others in the eye, and look out for each other. Humans have a natural tendency to shrink away when under turmoil for self preservation. Military members have been trained otherwise. This is the implied promise we made when we took our oaths: we stick together in service to our nation. Whether we’re still in uniform or not, we stick together.

Skill #3 – Grit

Finally, grit. Grit is the stubbornness to keep going anyway, even under the most profound circumstances. Grit is the discipline that takes over when motivation was long ago smothered. Grit is doing it anyway, because it’s hard.

Our military experience has taught us this whether we realize it or not–the moves, deployments, family separations, health issues, budget cuts, and doing more and more with less and less every year.

This is not the end, not even close. Pace yourself. Transition is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay informed, stay safe, and no matter what, never ever give up.

During times of uncertainty and disorder, when we fall to the level of our training, remember these skills in particular:

Lean on chain of command.

Stick together.

And no matter what, never ever give up.

Managing Mass Layoffs

If you, or someone you know, finds yourself now or imminently laid off, I offer this non-exhaustive list of employment, healthcare, unemployment, and small business resources below.

I know there’s this tendency in military culture to resist any individual-based support. I hope this doesn’t come across too harsh when I say: Get Over It. Whatever war you’re fighting, a distracted warfighter is a vulnerable warfighter. Cover down on your basics first, so that you can fight even harder for others.

Finally, even if you’re not in need yourself, I encourage you to familiarize yourself with these kinds of resources so you can counsel others.

Employment Job Boards

While these job boards are specifically tailored to Veteran applicants, many of these job vacancies are not exclusive to Veterans.

1. Hire Heroes USA
2. Hire Our Heroes – U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
3. Career One Stop (job finder)
4. Career One Stop (connection to state-run job boards)
5. National Labor Exchange

Healthcare Options (not through an employer)

1. VA Healthcare. You may be eligible for VA Healthcare if awarded a VA Disability Rating. But you may also be eligible if you are a Medal of Honor and/or Purple Heart recipient, you were exposed to toxic substances (see PACT ACT), if your longterm income falls below a certain threshold, and many other circumstances.
   • Check your VA Healthcare Eligibility here.
   • Apply for VA Healthcare Benefits here.
2. State Insurance Marketplace, established by the Affordable Care Act, enables any individuals (regardless of military service) to buy health insurance direct.
3. COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), a federal law, enables employees to keep their employer-based health insurance for a period of time after qualifying events, including being laid off. However, it should be noted COBRA is usually significantly more expensive than standard employment-based or state insurance marketplace plans.
4. Tricare Reserve Select. If you know, you already know the Guard and Reserve Tricare plans are very affordable and offer market-standard medical coverage.
   • Unfortunately, access to Tricare for Guard/Reservists who are also federal civil employees is (to the best of my understanding) prohibited, but the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is expected to lift this prohibition in 2030.

Unemployment Benefits

Career One Step (Unemployment Benefits): Search unemployment filing resources by state.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “in the majority of States, [unemployment] benefit funding is based solely on a tax imposed on employers.” Meaning the employer who just laid you off is most likely the one funding your unemployment benefits. If you’re laid off, apply.

And don’t delay. A friend of mine who was recently laid off applied for unemployment benefits within days, but processing still took 3-4 weeks.

State-run Veteran Benefits

State Veteran Resources page include information on state-run employment, education, and other Veteran benefits.

Resources to Start a Small Business

U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) Office of Veterans Business Development is a federally funded program to provide veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, military spouses, and family members with programs and services to start, grow and expand their small business.

1. U.S. SBA – Boots to Business
2. U.S. SBA – Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC)
3. Veteran Institute for Procurement for veteran owned small businesses seeking entry into the federal procurement marketplace.

Conclusion

We are surrounded by uncertainty and disorder. Stay clam, stay safe, and remember your training. And, if you, or someone you know has been impacted by the mass layoffs, remember there are many resources out there to help you over the crevice. Use them. Take care of each other. And do not give up.