A two-panel infographic comparing federal employee recognition. The 2025 panel shows 350+ nominations and 65 agencies with high visibility. The 2026 panel shows a 60% drop to 140 nominations and 39 agencies, featuring shadowed silhouettes and the text "Retaliation feared?" Below, a timeline links these trends to DOGE pressure points, data access issues, and staffing cuts.
Executive Power, Oversight and Records

Federal Workers Pull Back From Recognition as Fear Becomes a Warning Signal

Washington Post reporting on a smaller federal-worker awards ceremony points to a public-capacity risk: when civil servants fear recognition, government may lose one of its early warning systems.