As we honor Juneteenth, the day that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black people, we reflect on the deep, rich legacy of struggle, resilience, and triumph. This day serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come, but also how much more work is required to achieve true freedom and equality for all. While we reflect on this significant moment in history, we must confront a new challenge threatening the economic mobility of Black families: the attack on federal jobs.
Federal employment, and government employment in general, has long been the cornerstone of economic mobility for Black families, offering stability, access to benefits, and a path to the middle class. However, under the current administration, aggressive cuts to federal agencies are disproportionately affecting Black workers, undermining decades of progress. This Juneteenth, as we reflect on the importance of freedom and opportunity, we must also recognize the threat these federal cuts pose to the very foundation of economic equality that public sector jobs have provided for Black families.
The Role of Federal Employment in Building Black Wealth
For generations, federal employment has been a vital pathway to economic opportunity for Black Americans, offering stability, upward mobility, and a route to the middle class. These opportunities, historically denied in the private sector due to systemic racism, were first provided by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in the 1800s. This early initiative, employing formerly enslaved individuals, set the stage for a legacy of progress. From these modest beginnings, Black workers rose to hold prominent positions within federal agencies, including postmasters and other key roles, contributing to their communities and securing their financial futures. Federal employment opportunities continued to thrive through pivotal moments in American history, including the Great Depression and World War II.
Frederick Gooding Jr., an associate history professor at Texas Christian University, explains, “The federal government in many ways became a leader, modeling for the private sector what a true, equitable environment would look like. It didn’t matter what you looked like. It mattered how fast you could type; then you would get the job.” Those jobs provided Black families with the security to achieve the same American dream their white counterparts were accomplishing: homeownership, sending their children to college, and building generational wealth.
Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, emphasizes the significance of these opportunities: “In the last 40 to 50 years, we have made great progress and advanced through the ranks of these civil service positions with pride and distinction, and the nation has benefited from it,” Morial said.
However, this hard-earned progress is now at risk. The Trump administration’s sweeping job cuts threaten to undo decades of gains that lifted Black families into the middle class. If these cuts persist, we could witness a significant regression in the economic standing of the Black community, reversing the progress made over recent decades.
The Impact of Federal Job Cuts on Black Workers
The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has disproportionately targeted federal agencies with high Black employee representation, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Education. By 2023, Black workers made up 25.2% of the VA’s workforce and 36% of HUD and Education Department employees, meaning that the cuts are severely affecting Black workers and their communities.
While the federal government remained the nation’s largest employer in 2024, with nearly 3 million workers, over 260,000 federal employees had been laid off, offered buyouts, or retired early by June 2025, according to Reuters. In Prince George’s County, Maryland—one of the wealthiest majority-Black counties in the country–over 65,000 federal employees represent 17.4% of the workforce—underscoring the vital role federal jobs play in the local economy.
For many Black families, federal employment is not just a job but a critical source of economic stability and generational wealth. These jobs provide a secure path to the middle class, offering defined benefit pension plans, healthcare, and educational opportunities—benefits often unavailable in the private sector. The loss of these jobs threatens to strip away these essential benefits.
Denise Smith’s experience in federal service for over 30 years highlights the lasting impact federal jobs have on Black families. Her career allowed her to provide stability for her family and achieve financial security—opportunities that may be unavailable to future generations due to the ongoing cuts in federal agencies. This growing threat to the economic future of Black families is a pressing concern..
A Historic Pathway to Economic Equity
A key benefit of federal employment for Black families has been access to defined-benefit pensions, which offer long-term financial security that is often unavailable in the private sector. In contrast to the shift towards 401(k)-style retirement plans in the private industry, which has disproportionately impacted Black workers, federal pensions provide guaranteed income in retirement. This stability is vital, as Black workers in the private sector are less likely to have access to retirement plans, with only 44% participating in a retirement plan compared to 72% of Black government employees in California. Data from the UC Berkley Labor Center found that Black pensioners receive nearly the same annual benefit as white pensioners—a remarkable fact considering the overall wealth disparity in the United States.
Pensions have been instrumental in narrowing the racial wealth gap by offering consistent and secure retirement benefits, helping Black workers accumulate wealth and secure their financial futures. These pensions are vital for minorities, who historically have had limited access to generational wealth and savings. As the Trump administration’s job cuts threaten federal employment, the economic stability that many Black families rely on is at risk, endangering their access to these essential retirement benefits and undermining long-term financial security.
Protecting the Public Sector Is Essential for Black Workers’ Future
Federal jobs have long been a pathway to the middle class for Black workers. For decades, these positions have provided economic security, health benefits, and retirement savings, helping to close the racial wealth gap and secure a better future for Black families. The federal job cuts threaten to dismantle this critical infrastructure, disproportionately affecting Black workers and their communities.
This Juneteenth, we honor the legacy of emancipation, and we commit to protecting the public sector—a key institution that has empowered Black workers for generations. The fight for economic justice and opportunity is far from over, and we must ensure that federal employment remains a tool for equality, stability, and prosperity for Black Americans.