Federal workers experiencing ‘PTSD-like symptoms’ after unlawful firings by Trump administration

Employees walk out of the US Department of State headquarters on 11 July 2025, in Washington DC. Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenEmployees walk out of the US Department of State headquarters on 11 July 2025, in Washington DC. Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesBusiness Federal workers experiencing ‘PTSD-like symptoms’ after unlawful firings by Trump administrationIn survey of more than 300 fired probationary employees, 95% reported continuing mental health effects

US federal workers laid off by the Trump administration say they are experiencing mental health effects, including PTSD-like symptoms, from losing their jobs, according to a new survey.

More than 300 fired probationary employees were surveyed, with 95% reporting ongoing mental health effects, according to 27UNIHTED, a network of former National Institute of Health (NIH) employees. Nearly half said they were experiencing PTSD-like symptoms, and a quarter are taking new medications to manage symptoms.

Survey respondents were located across 43 states and the US Virgin Islands and had worked in 12 different departments across 15 agencies, bureaus and subgroups.

The employees are a tiny fraction of the more than 300,000 federal workers who were laid off or pushed to resign or retire since the start of Donald Trump’s second term. More than 25,000 workers were laid off in the middle of their probationary period, meaning they had started their positions within a year or two when they were abruptly fired.

Brier Ryver worked as a park ranger at the Crystal River national wildlife refuge, Florida’s only wildlife refuge for manatees, when she was fired along with other federal probationary employees.

She was in the midst of a six weeks education program teaching children when another probationary colleague was terminated. She was temporarily reinstated in March 2025 but was ultimately fired again that May.

“I love that job, so I went back to it, but the instability was very apparent,” Ryver said. “Even now, still talking to people who are still reinstated, it still feels like they’re waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

A federal judge ruled in September that the firing of federal probationary employees was unlawful, though the federal government was not required to reinstate terminated employees. The judge overseeing the case noted concerns that the supreme court would overrule the relief if he ordered reinstatement of the fired workers.

Ryver noted the firings had set a precedent that could allow the federal government to fire employees on a whim despite civil service protections.

“These unlawful terminations that should have never happened in the first place have had deep personal impacts,” Ryver said. “I still have PTSD-like symptoms in my own life that are impacting my ability to work, and although I’m in a different role now, it’s still at the back of my mind, what happened to us.”

Christa Reynolds worked as a contractor for the NIH for eight years before taking a role at the agency as a program analyst.