The Mental Health Toll of Government Layoffs on Federal Workers and the Scientific Community
By Melixa Carbonell, MA, LMHC, ADHD-CCSP, NCC
As a licensed psychotherapist, I’ve sat across from federal workers, scientists, research staff, and doctoral candidates over the past several months, witnessing something that rarely makes headlines: the quiet, personal unraveling that comes with prolonged professional uncertainty.
We often talk about the logistical implications of massive government layoffs—budget cuts, program closures, operational slowdowns—but rarely do we talk about the emotional cost. Behind every “position eliminated” is a person who is suddenly questioning their value, their purpose, and their future.
In the therapy room, I’ve seen anxiety spike, sleep deteriorate, and long-standing coping strategies collapse under the weight of ambiguity. These aren’t just clients facing job loss; they are deeply committed public servants, researchers working on life-saving science, and professionals whose identity is often interwoven with the very agencies now casting their futures into doubt.
Uncertainty Is Its Own Trauma
Unlike an immediate job loss—which is traumatic in its own right—the threat of layoffs creates a unique psychological environment. One in which a person is expected to continue performing at high levels while privately preparing for professional displacement. This limbo state is emotionally exhausting.
Uncertainty disrupts our sense of safety and control, two fundamental psychological needs. Without clarity, the nervous system remains in a heightened state of vigilance, interpreting every internal memo, supervisor tone, or departmental shift as a potential threat.
From a person-centered perspective, the individual’s subjective experience is paramount. My clients aren’t only worried about their income—they’re wrestling with what it means to have their work devalued, to have years of service reduced to a line item. The loss here is personal, and the grief is real.
A Blow to Mission-Driven Identity
Many federal workers, particularly in the scientific community, are not just doing jobs—they are pursuing missions. When their positions are threatened, the impact isn’t simply economic—it’s existential.
Researchers express guilt over potentially abandoning long-term projects, studies left incomplete, or data that will never inform policy. There’s a distinct form of moral injury that occurs when someone trained to serve the public good is left unable to do so—not by choice, but by a system that no longer sees their work as essential. While direct studies on moral injury among scientists facing layoffs are limited, related research provides valuable insights. For instance, an article in Quartz discusses how professionals experience moral injury when systemic constraints prevent them from acting in accordance with their ethical standards, leading to feelings of guilt and psychological distress. Similarly, a study published in the Journal of Service Science and Management highlights that layoffs can result in reduced morale and commitment among remaining employees, as they experience mixed emotions, stress, and guilt. These findings suggest that professionals dedicated to public service, such as scientists, may experience moral injury when unable to complete meaningful projects due to systemic issues like layoffs. QuartzSCIRP
In my sessions, I hear phrases like:
“What was it all for?”
“I am afraid to open my email because every day it’s more bad news.”
“It feels like the floor is constantly shifting beneath me.”
These statements don’t come from fragile people—they come from deeply skilled, deeply committed professionals navigating institutional instability without psychological support.
This Is a Public Health Issue
The cumulative effects of chronic workplace uncertainty are not abstract. We see increased:
Anxiety and depressive symptoms
Substance use as a means of coping
Relationship strain and isolation
Physiological health issues related to stress (e.g., high blood pressure, GI issues, sleep disorders)
As mental health professionals, we know that stress becomes trauma when a person feels powerless and unsupported. For many impacted by federal layoffs, both conditions are present.
The broader concern is that we are creating a culture of professional instability, where even the most capable and committed individuals feel disposable. That’s a mental health issue with ripple effects across families, communities, and the future of public service.
What Leadership Can Do Now
Even if layoffs are inevitable, the way they are handled matters. Here’s what organizational leaders, HR professionals, and policymakers should consider:
Communicate Transparently and Early: Uncertainty breeds fear. Information, even if it’s difficult, restores a sense of control.
Normalize Emotional Reactions: Validate that stress, sadness, and fear are appropriate responses—not signs of weakness.
Offer Real Mental Health Support: Not just EAPs buried in an HR portal. Make therapy, support groups, and check-ins visible and accessible.
Preserve Dignity: Honor the work and contributions of affected staff. When possible, offer transition planning and redeployment opportunities.
Lead with Humanity: Behind every role is a person with a life, a purpose, and a story.
A Call for Compassion and Accountability
We cannot treat people as temporary assets and expect long-term resilience. And we cannot continue to ask individuals to carry the psychological burden of systemic decisions without offering real, sustained support.
To those in leadership: your people are watching—not just what you say, but how you act. Your response to this crisis can either preserve trust or permanently erode it.
To my fellow therapists and mental health professionals: we have a critical role to play in advocating for the emotional health of the workforce, especially in times of institutional crisis.
To those impacted: you are not the problem—you are experiencing a problem. Your reaction is valid, and your worth is not diminished by uncertainty.
Let’s make space for that truth.
Melixa Carbonell, MA, LMHC, ADHD-CCSP, NCC is a licensed clinical mental health provider (MH#16186) with a private practice specializing in anxiety, ADHD, LGBTQ+ community, and life changes. Call or email for a free 15-minute consultation at 321.287.6919 or at [email protected]