Black Women in the Federal Workforce Find Purpose in Retirement

Front facade of the U.S. Department of Education building in Washington D.C. (Photo courtesy of Andy Feliciotti via Unsplash)

In her final days at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Stacey Sharpe danced in her basement without a song to guide her steps. The feeling of relief and freedom overwhelmed her spirit, casting away all the regret and devastation that consumed her when she first realized she would have to retire. 

Sharpe, former director of human capital talent management, has worked for the federal government for the past 38 years and was hoping to retire once she hit 40. But to her surprise and many other Americans, on July 1st, 2025, USAID closed its door for good in July and the remainder of the programs were absorbed by the state government. A recent New York Times article stated, “Black women make up 12 percent of the federal work force, nearly double their share of the labor force overall.” Black women have been the foundation of federal government agencies and with cuts to the workforce, many black women are reevaluating their lives like never before.

Joyce Craig is one of those women. She wasn’t as jubilant about being laid off as Sharpe, but was optimistic enough to find humor in her situation as she looked for new employment. 

“The only opportunity that I did get an offer for was a lunch lady,” Joyce Craig said with a light chuckle. 

Craig, a former lead human resource evaluator, has worked for the Department of Justice for 16 years. That is the longest position she has held in government; other positions last around five years, but as a senior evaluator, something clicked for her. Craig had a good experience working at the Department of Justice. She enjoyed her supervisor, had a great work-life balance and even mentioned a work bestie.

But suddenly something changed. 

When President Trump was elected to office, Craig realized that she couldn’t stay another term. 

“I could not stay in that environment any longer for my mental peace,” Craig said.

In the first term of Trump’s administration, Craig felt embarrassed to have President Trump as a boss, but she had a good team. The last straw for Craig was a combination of uncertainty and fear in the workplace, along with the feeling of being vilified by the Trump administration and the American people. She felt that the work that she dedicated her life to was undervalued.

“That was very dehumanizing…it was like what was I spending the last 33 years of my life doing?” she said.

Craig retired at the end of 2024. She knew as she prepared to go back into the job market that she didn’t want to go back into human resources. So, she applied for administrative positions, such as working for the local government and school administration. Even with 33 years of experience, she didn’t have a single job offer that she could take seriously.

Craig isn’t sure why she isn’t receiving serious job offers. She questions whether it’s the current political climate, the fact that she worked for the federal government, or something else altogether, but she is trying her best in this new phase of life. According to Time Magazine, “Because Black women are overrepresented in public sector jobs, the Trump Administration’s massive cuts to the federal workforce have likely contributed towards over 300,000 Black women leaving the labor force between February and July.”

As of now, Craig is doing things she enjoys. She is volunteering for two non-profits, but is still looking for permanent employment. For Craig, who has worked for the Department of Justice for the majority of her life. She has grown used to the routine and when routines are broken, it’s hard to navigate a new and unusual pattern of life, she says. 

“I do find that I am faced with really having to do some soul searching about developing my own niche,” she said.

 Similar to Craig, Sharpe is adjusting to her new life. 

“Initially, I was stunned I didn’t know how to take it,” she said.

As Sharpe reached the end of her career— her viewpoint suddenly changed— opening up a horizon of new opportunities. 

Sharpe isn’t the only federal worker who was blindsided by the changes in the workforce. She recalls a time when the federal workplace was stable, reliable and consistent, but with the Trump administration changing the rules every day, she is no longer sure what the federal government will look like.

“All the rules and regulations you have been governed by, they no longer exist,” Sharpe said.

Many of her colleagues who were eligible to retire did so, but some were only able to take a  “buyout” when a specific amount of money was granted to federal workers to leave their positions. 

The moments before retirement were “excruciating” and “painful” for Sharpe. She said the Trump administration didn’t give a real reason for their actions, but she soon realized that to move on, she would have to pivot.

Sharpe understood that, in a time of uncertainty, she had to be resilient. She leaned into her faith and decided to make the best of her situation.

“It turned out to be a blessing,” said Sharpe. When she was dancing in her basement, the airy feeling of freedom embraced her and she knew she had made the best decision for herself. “Now, I just feel liberated…and I am at peace.” 

Through her work, Sharpe understands that there is a need in the world and in the next stages of her life, she wants to continue to contribute. As of now, she is thinking of starting her own business, establishing a group home for people with developmental disabilities. Through her experiences, Sharpe understood the importance of aiding people and the lasting impact it can have on a community. 

Many black women who formerly worked for the federal government are grappling with the fact that their lives are changing in ways they never imagined, but like Sharpe and Craig, they are finding ways to supplement the loss of their jobs and trying to figure out their next steps. 

“I stopped focusing on this situation and I started focusing more on what I do with this new freedom.”