- Thousands of federal workers have been fired by the Trump administration and DOGE.
- Now, some states are hoping to lure those workers into state governments.
- They include New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and others.
If you've been fired by the Trump administration, your next job might be in state government.
That's the bet that several governors are making as they launch recruitment drives to scoop up some of the thousands of federal workers who've been affected by job cuts led by the White House DOGE office.
For workers, it's not without challenges. You may have to move to a new state, and state government jobs may pay less than similar roles in the federal government.
For governors, there's only upside, with the possibility of bolstering state governments while offering a political contrast to President Donald Trump.
Here are the states that have launched recruitment drives for federal workers in recent weeks.
New York
Gov. Kathy Hochul's campaign to lure federal workers to jobs in New York's state government may be the flashiest of any governor.
In early March, Hochul launched the "New York Wants You" initiative in a bid to fill what the governor's office says are more than 7,000 open positions.
The campaign included advertisements in Washington, DC's Union Station featuring a drawing of the Statue of Liberty pointing forward — a reference to the "Uncle Sam" posters used for US Army recruitment during World War I.
"The federal government might say 'you're fired,'" Hochul said in an announcement video. "But here in New York, we say 'you're hired.'"
New York is also touting the benefits of working in state government, including paid parental leave, and flexible schedules.
More than 53,000 federal workers live in New York, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is hoping to capitalize on the skillset of federal employees to fill critical roles in their state government.
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order last week directing state agencies to treat federal government work experience as equivalent to state-level work experience in a bid to fill certain roles — particularly in civil engineering, nursing, corrections, and accounting — more quickly.
"We have an opportunity to recruit federal workers and veterans who have significant experience and expertise in all of these fields because they've held these jobs already at the federal level or in the military," Shapiro said in a statement at the time.
There are currently about 5,600 open positions in Pennsylvania state government, according to the governor's office.
As part of the initiative, the state also launched a new website that includes a chart comparing state government roles to equivalent federal government roles.
More than 66,000 federal workers live in Pennsylvania, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Maryland
Maryland, which borders Washington, DC and is home to 143,000 federal workers, according to the Congressional Research Service, is also trying to hire more people to work in state government.
But Gov. Wes Moore isn't just talking about state jobs — he's also encouraging fired federal workers, and others who work for organizations that depend on federal funding, to consider becoming teachers.
"Are you a federal employee looking for a meaningful career change? Your commitment to public service makes you an asset in shaping the future of education," reads a state website set up to support the initiative.
Virginia
Gov. Glenn Youngkin has also launched a bid to lure fired federal workers into state government.
There are currently 4,500 open positions according to the "Virginia Has Jobs" website, which Youngkin announced late last month.
Unlike other governors who've extended help to federal workers, Youngkin is a Republican.
As a result, he's expressed general support for DOGE-led cuts to the federal workforce, even as he shows sympathy toward those who have been fired.
"This process that the federal government is going through is one that is needed, because of the inefficiency and bloat of the federal government," Youngkin said at a recent press conference. "With that said, this isn't about the workers, who I know are really, really, really scared."
More than 144,000 federal workers live in Virginia, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Hawaii
The Aloha State is looking to hire federal workers — and quickly.
Gov. Josh Green signed an executive order last month launching Operation Hire Hawaii, an initiative that directs state agencies to prioritize "displaced" federal workers for open positions.
The order also expedites the hiring process, directing agencies to make a conditional job offer within 14 days of receiving an application.
More than 24,500 federal workers live in Hawaii, according to the Congressional Research Service.
