Over the past few months, federal workers have faced sweeping changes: mass firings, dismantling of entire agencies, forced returns to the office, potential cuts to retirement benefits, and constant public criticism.
These changes have sparked a wave of frustration, regret, and reflection among some federal employees who voted for President Donald Trump.
A popular Reddit thread titled “Feds who voted for Trump: Would you have voted differently, had you known how things would pan out?” posed a simple but powerful question to federal workers: knowing what you know now, would you have voted differently?
Some Say Yes—Loud and Clear
One user summed it up starkly: “I voted for him, lifelong Republican here… I am so sorry now.”
That commenter, a veteran and federal employee, said he could no longer support Trump or the Republican Party after the administration’s treatment of federal workers.
“I will vote Democrat for the rest of my life and I don’t care who it is running.”
Another user shared a similar change of heart: “Absolutely I would have voted differently, and I will NOT be voting R again—and I’ve always voted R. They have lost base supporters.”
One commenter described themselves as a swing voter who supported Hillary Clinton in 2016, Trump in 2020, and abstained in 2024.
They wrote, “The last few months for me have cemented who/what I won’t ever support. That line in the sand is new. Very new.”
Some Still Defend Their Vote—Or Stay Silent
Despite the backlash, some Trump voters remain supportive or deflect blame. One commenter noted, “Trump campaigned on all of this. How would anyone ‘not know’? That sounds like a lazy excuse.”
Another added, “Nope, he’s doing what he promised the people.”
Still, others pointed out that many Trump voters at their workplaces have either gone quiet or pretend they didn’t vote for him at all.
“A few of my office mates (who boasted about loving Trump) are now pretending they didn’t vote for Trump, like we have amnesia or something,” one person said.
Project 2025: Was It Really a Surprise?
Many commenters expressed disbelief that anyone could be caught off guard by the administration’s actions.
Project 2025, a policy roadmap created by conservative think tanks, outlined many of the changes now affecting federal workers.
“None of them give a damn. He’s doing everything that he said he would do, and the rest was in Project 2025 that everyone warned about. So they knowingly voted for this,” one Redditor said.
Another added, “This is a nonsensical question. Everything this administration is doing was very clearly explained in Project 2025. The ones that didn’t know are the ones that did not want to know.”
Disillusionment and Political Apathy
Some users said they no longer plan to vote at all.
One wrote, “I feel betrayed and with that, 2024 was my last year voting. I really don’t believe any of these “Politicians” have the American people in their best interest.”
Others blamed both parties for the situation, saying they were forced to choose between two poor options.
A Shift Toward Activism
While some federal workers are swearing off voting, others are becoming more politically active than ever before.
One commenter said, “I called up about a dozen state senators today about a bill. Never would have done that before.”
Another user encouraged those expressing regret to stay involved: “The resistance is growing thanks to folks who are new to the fight… Keep calling, keep engaging, and keep fighting.”
Looking Ahead to 2026 and 2028
So, will regret translate into different choices in the next elections?
Some say absolutely. Others remain undecided or disillusioned. Still, a vocal group insists they stand by their choice, even amid the fallout.
One commenter summed up the divide: “Most will go down with the ship and justify any action that person takes to justify their own choice.”
But for others, the consequences have been too personal to ignore.
“Shame on all elected and appointed persons who are involved in harming our ability to survive by messing with our pensions.”, life lifelong republican wrote.
As 2026 and 2028 approach, one thing is clear: federal workers who once backed Trump are no longer a guaranteed Republican voting bloc, and many are still figuring out what comes next.
IMAGE CREDIT: ”U.S. Presidential Nominee Donald Trump” by GPA Photo Archive, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.