Supporting Federal Workers Through Layoffs: A Statewide Rapid Response Effort
When hundreds of federal workers across Washington found themselves unexpectedly unemployed in early 2025, local and state partners moved quickly to respond.
What began as a surge in unemployment claims—more than 950 federal employees filed by March, over twice the number from the year prior—soon became a call to action for Washington’s workforce system. The layoffs, which stemmed from federal budget cuts, spanned 52 agencies and every county in the state, with the USDA, Department of the Interior, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs among the most impacted.
In response, the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) took a leading role in mobilizing a statewide effort to connect displaced federal employees with the resources and support they needed to move forward.
Rapid Response Process: Connecting businesses and workers to timely layoff support and reemployment services.
Statewide Coordination Led Locally
Promotional Flyer: Shared statewide to connect federal workers with reemployment resources.
At the heart of the response was Kristan Lortz, WDC’s Rapid Response Program Manager, who spearheaded a series of virtual Rapid Response reemployment presentations tailored specifically to the needs of federal workers. Partnering with colleagues from local workforce boards in Snohomish, Pierce, Kitsap, and Spokane, as well as with ESD, the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, and the Washington State Labor Council, Kristan helped form a coordinated Statewide Rapid Response Team.
Together, they hosted three statewide events in March, April, and May—open to federal workers and contractors impacted by layoffs and funding reductions. These virtual sessions offered practical, real-time guidance on topics like:
Navigating unemployment insurance claims
Accessing health insurance through the WA Health Benefit Exchange
Exploring job training and reskilling programs
Connecting to local WorkSource services and career support
Media Coverage: FOX 13 Seattle highlighted the statewide reemployment events, helping raise awareness among impacted federal workers.
Delivering Statewide Impact
Each event was hosted on a shared platform by the Seattle-King County WDC and included presenters from across the workforce ecosystem. More than 160 federal workers attended statewide, with over 50 attendees from King County alone.
The outreach strategy was intentional and far-reaching:
GovDelivery campaigns targeted recent UI claimants identified as federal workers.
WorkSourceWA and local board channels shared registration links and flyers.
Statewide and local media coverage—including FOX 13 Seattle—helped elevate visibility.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management joined the effort to distribute the information.
Following each session, WDC worked with the Washington Workforce Association (WWA) to share attendee information with the appropriate local boards for direct follow-up—ensuring no worker was left behind.
A Model for Responsive, Collaborative Action
This response effort didn’t just offer timely support—it also demonstrated the power of statewide coordination, local leadership, and partner collaboration. It was a proactive example of the WDC’s commitment to equity, accessibility, and practical impact in workforce services.
As John Traugott, Executive Director of WWA, put it:
John Traugott, Executive Director of the Washington Workforce Association (WWA).
“The goal of these presentations was to lend the expertise of Local Boards to guide federal workers and contractors to services and programs that bridge the gap between jobs and set them up for long-term success.”
The final federal-focused session wrapped on May 29, but the partnerships and infrastructure built through this effort continue to shape responses to other workforce challenges—including support for state workers facing similar uncertainty.
Connecting the Dots: Industry Strategies serve as the intersection of job seeker needs, employer demand, and community priorities.
Moving Forward
While the federal layoffs presented significant challenges, they also underscored the critical role of local workforce boards in times of crisis. With dedicated leadership from staff like Kristan Lortz and the support of partners across the state, the WDC continues to ensure that every worker has access to the tools and support needed to weather disruptions and pursue new opportunities.
Related Resources
Looking for support? Check out these pages on the WorkSource Seattle-King County website: