DOGE and the animus toward federal employment is probably more accurately described as an animus toward wasteful federal spending, duplicative bureaucracy and overreaching federal involvement in private enterprise.

If I had applied for a government job that didn't fit those buckets, I'd take the job when offered.

If I had applied for a government job that did fit those buckets, I probably wouldn't care what anyone else thought.

Worked many years for the government as a civilian engineer - would definitely not recommend anyone accept a federal job. Good workers are not rewarded. Benefits have been trimmed back, retirement is now based on SS and IRAs and pay does not match the commercial sector. Plus all of the EEO and DEI training is just crazy (or was). I think DOGE could trim 40% of the federal workforce and efficiency would go up. There is so much dead wood who do not contribute but do file frivolous labor, EEO and discrimination complaints which sucks up valuable management time. It truly is a 80/20 organization where 20% does 80% of the work...