To the editor,
Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) 2026 will be observed from May 3–9, honoring federal, state, county, and local government employees who serve the public.
As of early 2026, there are about 23.3 million civilian public service employees across all three tiers of government, making the public sector one of the largest employers in the country.
Federal Government includes agencies like the U.S. Postal Service, Social Security Administration, IRS, CDC, and law enforcement agencies such as the FBI (other examples: Park rangers, federal analysts, social workers, inspectors) State government covers roles in education, public safety, licensing, environmental regulation, and social services (other examples: Highway patrol officers, university professors) Local government includes police officers, firefighters, public school teachers, sanitation workers, librarians, building inspectors, and clerks (other examples: city planners, public health nurses, transit drivers).
As a retired former Federal employee with 32 years of service, I am thankful that I do not have to deal with the issues current public service employees are experiencing. Public service workers across the U.S., from federal to state and local agencies, are currently facing a mix of workforce reductions in staff, operational disruptions when working on promises and not being paid during government shutdowns, and many other issues leading to declining morale. This is undermining service delivery and eroding public trust.
What can we do? A simple thank you for their service would be a nice gesture. Say thank you to a valuable public servant today!
Karen Jensen
Public Relations
Dakota Federation National Active and Retired Federal Employees
Leave a Reply