The Social Security Administration, a vital agency for millions of Americans, reported an alarming employee engagement score of just 15.2 out of 100 in 2025, according to federalnewsnetwork. This critically low figure follows a broader trend where federal employee engagement scored 32 out of 100 during 2025, as surveyed by the Partnership for Public Service.
Federal agencies are tasked with delivering essential public services, but the workforce responsible for these services is experiencing unprecedented levels of disengagement and burnout. Nearly 60% of survey respondents indicated their engagement at work decreased since 2024, signaling a rapidly deteriorating environment.
Without immediate and targeted interventions, the federal government risks a sustained decline in operational effectiveness, talent retention, and public trust.
Federal Workers Lag Behind Peers in Morale
Federal workers are experiencing a significantly sharper decline in engagement compared to their state and local counterparts. In Q2 2025, the share of engaged federal workers fell six percentage points more than among state and local peers, according to Gallup. This divergence points to unique systemic stressors within the federal environment, distinct from those affecting other public sectors.
Federal employees were also eight to nine points more likely than their state and local counterparts to report high burnout during Q2 2025, Gallup reports. This pronounced difference suggests federal agencies grapple with specific, unresolved challenges in workforce well-being. The sustained gap in engagement and burnout rates implies that current federal workplace strategies are failing to address the root causes of disaffection, potentially leading to a critical talent drain towards more stable public sector roles.
Varied Impact Across Departments
Employee engagement scores vary significantly across federal agencies, revealing an uneven crisis. NASA, for instance, achieved an engagement score of 46.4 out of 100, according to federalnewsnetwork. This stands in stark opposition to the Social Security Administration's 15.2 score, previously cited. Such a wide divergence confirms that while the disengagement problem is systemic, its severity is acutely concentrated in certain critical agencies, likely reflecting distinct leadership failures or entrenched cultural issues.
The catastrophic 15.2 engagement score at the Social Security Administration transcends a mere HR challenge; this score is a direct threat to the millions of Americans reliant on its services. An imminent breakdown in critical public service delivery is now apparent. Without immediate, targeted interventions, the government's capacity to execute core functions will likely erode rapidly by late 2026, jeopardizing public welfare and trust.
