The GovCon Stories Project: What Happens When Public Service Jobs Disappear

What does it mean to be “DOGEd”?

In this powerful episode of The Method to Our Madness Podcast, hosts Stacey and Bill sit down with sociologist Tara Fannon, Ph.D. to unpack the human impact behind the 2025 federal funding cuts—and the often-overlooked fallout for government contractors.

Drawing from her GovCon Stories Project, Tara shares insights from a mixed-methods study of 92 surveyed contractors and in-depth interviews with 20 individuals affected by sudden layoffs. What emerges is a deeply personal look at job loss in a sector once seen as stable: stories of disrupted identities, financial strain, lost healthcare, and the emotional toll of feeling invisible and disposable.

This episode goes beyond the headlines to explore:

The psychological impact of being laid off from mission-driven work

How poor communication and lack of support compounded the crisis

Why long-held assumptions about stability in government contracting no longer hold true

How contractors are rebuilding—through entrepreneurship, upskilling, and new career paths

Despite the challenges, this conversation also highlights resilience. Many impacted professionals remain committed to public-service values while reimagining what equitable and sustainable work could look like in the future.

If you care about workforce equity, the future of government contracting, or the human stories behind economic disruption, this episode is a must-listen.

A downloadable summary of the episode can be found here: Episode 14 notes

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