Federal workers face uncertainty after layoffs in Chicago

At a recent job fair in Chicago, many federal workers shared their concerns about job cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). One employee from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said morale among workers is low and many are uncertain about their future. He mentioned he is on paid leave and does not expect to return to his job. A federal judge recently ruled that DOGE’s actions to shut down USAID might be unconstitutional. However, the judge did not fully reopen the agency. The job fair was aimed at former federal employees but was open to all job seekers. There are about 90,000 federal workers in Illinois, and many attended the fair feeling the effects of the service cuts. Workers talked about the stress and confusion caused by these cuts. Some are waiting for updates on their jobs, while others fear they might lose theirs soon. They noted that the cuts affect not only their finances but also their mental well-being. State agencies from Illinois attended the job fair, looking to hire. Raven DeVaughn, director of the Department of Central Management Services, encouraged attendees to consider civil service jobs as valuable and respected. The White House plans to appeal the judge's ruling, arguing that it undermines the Trump administration's goals. Some job seekers, who had left private jobs for federal roles, expressed disappointment after being laid off. One former IRS employee said he had only worked for the agency for eight months before being fired, while another employee mentioned he is applying for other jobs due to low morale at the IRS. Others reported that the cuts could impact job opportunities across sectors, including nonprofits. As workers cope with uncertainty, it is likely that the effects of these federal cuts will ripple out to affect many Americans.