Some federal employees have opted not to participate in the 250th anniversary celebrations of the United States scheduled for 2026. This decision follows workforce reductions and restructuring within the federal government under the administration of President Donald Trump.

The federal workforce was reduced by more than 278,000 workers under that administration. Some federal agencies were dismantled or closed completely. The year 2025 saw a reduction in the size of the federal government through political dismissals, early retirements, and incentivized resignations. The Social Security Administration lost several thousand workers, and many of its employees were reassigned to handle the agency's national telephone line.

Edward, a federal employee and U.S. Armed Forces veteran with 30 years of service who worked at a military base in New York state, expressed his sentiments. "Toda mi vida, hasta hace poco, me sentí muy orgulloso de nuestro país. Todos los empleados federales, desde el personal de limpieza hasta los funcionarios de mayor rango, juramos defender y proteger la Constitución. Ahora ni siquiera quiero tener nada que ver con el Día de la Independencia. Estoy enojado y avergonzado," Edward said. He stated his intention to abstain from the celebrations. "Me siento perfectamente bien quedándome en casa. No habrá una bandera frente a la casa ni decoraciones en la repisa de la chimenea. Me duele porque estoy muy orgulloso del pasado de Estados Unidos, pero no puedo sentir orgullo por nuestro presente," he said.

Jonas, a program analyst at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), responded to Hurricane Harvey in Texas in 2017 after five days on the job. Jonas lost his federal job after more than eight years of public service. He used savings and family assistance to pay for medical consultations related to his disability while he was without income. Jonas was rehired six months after losing his job. More than two million federal employees work across the United States. More than 85% of federal workers live outside the Washington metropolitan area, with Florida, Texas, and California each employing over 100,000 federal employees.

New York City hosted a flotilla of large sailboats and military vessels for the 250th anniversary celebrations during the July 4 weekend of 2026.