Tapping into Displaced U.S. Government Talent: A Call to Action for the EA and High-Impact Community

By Andreas P @ 2025-05-05T07:05 (+10)

In January 2025, the newly inaugurated U.S. presidential administration initiated a wave of layoffs across the federal government. So far, nearly 60,000 federal employees have been let go, and another 80,000 have accepted buyouts. An estimated 150,000 more could still be impacted.

While this upheaval is troubling for many reasons, it also presents a unique and time-sensitive opportunity: many of these displaced professionals possess skills and values deeply aligned with the missions of EA (effective altruism) and high-impact organizations.

 

Mission-Aligned Talent in Transition

The layoffs have affected staff at agencies such as USAID, Voice of America, and the Department of Health and Human Services, all agencies whose work often aligns with cause areas in global health & development, cybersecurity, AI safety, and biosecurity. These are not just bureaucrats, they are dedicated public servants with experience in some of the community’s most pressing cause areas.

And yet, despite this alignment, many of these professionals have never heard of EA, let alone job platforms like 80,000 Hours or related organizations and resources that could be mutually beneficial. In conversations I’ve had with several impacted federal workers, this lack of awareness was consistent and striking.

This disconnect is not new, but 2025 has made it impossible to ignore. The EA and high-impact communities now have a rare chance to proactively bridge this gap and offer meaningful pathways to those who still want to serve.

 

Federal Employees Are Looking for Purpose

Recent workforce surveys show that most federal employees are driven by a desire to give back and do mission-driven work. Many are hesitant to transition into profit-focused sectors and are seeking alternatives that allow them to continue creating impact.

Some support structures are being built to help them pivot into state and local government roles, but nonprofit organizations can offer the same sense of purpose. With the right outreach, we can attract top-tier, values-aligned talent at a critical time.

 

What the EA/High-Impact Community Can Do

Here are a few actionable steps the community can take to engage this workforce:

1. Join and Participate in New Networks

2. Partner with Support Organizations

3. Monitor and Learn from Local Governments

4. Adapt Hiring and Outreach Processes

5. Expand Capacity-Building Programs

6. Coordinate Across Organizations

7. Expand Resource Visibility

8. Focus on Cybersecurity and AI Safety Talent

 

A Time-Sensitive Opportunity with Long-Term Implications

Although these layoffs began months ago, the federal downsizing is expected to continue through the year, if not longer. It’s not too late to engage, and the need will likely grow.

This won’t be the last time we see this kind of public-sector disruption, whether in the U.S. or globally. By building processes, partnerships, programs, and messaging, we prepare ourselves to respond quickly and effectively when similar opportunities arise in the future.

There’s another upside: EA and high-impact organizations often offer better flexibility, benefits, and remote work options than state or local governments. And many of the affected workers live in cities where our nonprofits are already active.

 

Let’s Build the Bridge

This moment is not just about helping people find jobs, it’s about strengthening the pipeline of high-integrity, high-skill individuals who want to spend their lives working on what matters most.

Let’s make sure they know we’re here and that there’s meaningful work to be done together.