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

In survey of more than 300 fired probationary employees, 95% reported continuing mental health effects

US federal workers laid off by the Trump administration said 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 are 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.”