I’ve spent years working with small and mid-sized companies, helping them navigate the federal contracting landscape. Through this experience, I’ve witnessed the extraordinary impact that federal employees have on the lives of everyday Americans. From ensuring our drinking water is clean to supporting vulnerable families through Head Start to issuing contracts that sustain businesses in your community, federal employees create ripple effects that touch virtually every aspect of American life. As the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) actions have left many federal workers facing uncertain futures, it’s more important than ever to recognize their essential contributions and why indiscriminate layoffs undermine services that all Americans rely on.
The Invisible Thread Connecting Federal Employees to Daily American Life
Most Americans are unaware of the significant role federal employment plays in the fabric of their daily lives. When you turn on your tap for safe drinking water, federal employees at the EPA have played a role. When you drive on an interstate highway, federal workers have helped make that possible. When your local small business secures a government contract that creates jobs in your community, federal employees have facilitated that economic opportunity.
Federal employees don’t just serve vulnerable populations—they serve all Americans across every socioeconomic level. NASA scientists advance America’s leadership in space exploration and technological innovation. Federal cybersecurity experts protect American businesses and families from foreign hackers and digital threats. Diplomats and military personnel ensure our national security and represent American interests abroad. These services benefit every citizen regardless of their economic standing or geographic location.
In Oklahoma City alone, for example, federal workers perform critical tasks that maintain our national well-being—from food inspection that keeps your family safe against foodborne illness to military aircraft maintenance that supports our national defense. These aren’t abstract bureaucratic functions; they’re essential services performed by dedicated professionals whose work touches your life in ways you might never notice until those services are disrupted.
As America’s largest employer with over 3 million workers, the federal government creates a substantial middle class that strengthens local economies nationwide. Federal employees pay taxes, purchase homes, support local businesses, and contribute to community organizations. This economic activity generates prosperity that extends far beyond government offices, creating a foundation for thriving communities across America.
The Cascading Effects of DOGE Cuts
The recent DOGE cuts have particularly impacted smaller federal agencies, with immediate consequences for everyday Americans. At the USDA, significant layoffs in animal inspection, land preservation, and agricultural research have affected critical services like food safety monitoring and environmental protection. We’re already seeing the effects in areas such as egg prices, which have risen to historic highs partly due to reduced capacity to manage agricultural challenges like the bird flu outbreak. We haven’t yet reached wildfire season here on the West Coast, but when we do, USDA wildland firefighters are vital supporters in helping to fight them.
At HHS, mass layoffs at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration threaten the research that leads to medical breakthroughs and the safety measures that protect the food and medicine your family consumes. At USAID, employees who coordinate the global humanitarian assistance for which America is well known and international development programs that advance American interests abroad are facing the potential dismantling of their agency. Although the responsibilities are expected to be transitioned to the Department of State, there is no indication that USAID employees will be transferred, nor the millions of dollars in contracts that USAID was responsible for.
Even the less visible agencies, such as the Government Accountability Office, which plays a crucial role in ensuring government accountability and effectiveness, are being impacted. With reduced staffing, their ability to identify waste and improve government operations—the very efficiency DOGE claims to seek—is being compromised. Pentagon civilian personnel who support military operations and defense contracting face workforce reductions that could impact national security readiness. This comes at a time when the United States faces more significant threats from global powers and international geopolitical tensions than at any point in recent history.
Perhaps most concerning for small businesses in particular is how DOGE cuts affect government employees who issue contract awards. These professionals ensure fair competition and timely awards to companies providing goods and services to federal agencies. As their numbers dwindle, the capacity to manage contracts efficiently diminishes, potentially disrupting the flow of critical services and creating financial instability for businesses that depend on government contracts.
A More Thoughtful Path Forward
Rather than blanket job cuts that disrupt essential services, a more effective approach to government efficiency would involve carefully reviewing operations to identify areas where processes can be streamlined without compromising core functions. This might include leveraging technology to reduce administrative burdens and implementing more transparent budgeting practices. Although this approach could take time to execute, the results would be more predictable and the outcomes more positive.
While some positions may be redundant, the vast majority of federal jobs are essential to agency operations and the services Americans rely on. By targeting inefficiencies with surgical precision rather than a sledgehammer, we can maintain critical services while eliminating genuine waste.
The federal government isn’t just a collection of bureaucrats—it’s a vital institution staffed by dedicated, generally competent professionals who ensure that America functions effectively on a daily basis. These employees aren’t the problem; they’re an essential part of the solution for creating a more efficient and responsive government.
As someone who works closely with federal agencies and contractors, I believe it’s time to recognize federal employees for what they truly are: public servants whose work touches every American life in countless positive ways. By supporting rather than undermining this workforce, we can build a stronger, more resilient public sector that serves all Americans more effectively.