# Federal Agencies Face Workforce Continuity Risks

Federal employees describe office-return mandates, limited advancement and performance-rating opportunities, no raises, and expected increases in healthcare costs as pressures on morale, retention, and productivity. The accounts are anecdotal, not confirmation of agency-wide policy or a procurement announcement. They include an IRS employee and a commenter discussing wireless-device functionality; commenters also worry that experienced staff departures could create capability gaps that agencies may expect AI to fill. For procurement professionals, this is a potential workforce and mission-continuity concern, not a specified contract opportunity or AI acquisition requirement.

- Agencies and contractors supporting federal missions may need to account for potential staffing and knowledge-continuity risks in delivery assumptions; the signals identify no particular program or affected contract.
- The discussion provides no confirmed agency-wide requirements, contract values, solicitation dates, or AI implementation plans, so it does not establish a basis for changing bids or staffing commitments.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** October 13, 2026

### Government Entities
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

### Key Quotes
> They expect AI...sorry, the SUPER INTELLIGENCE!!!!!!!!!!11!!!, to fill in the gaps left by skilled federal employees leaving/getting fired.
> — Commenter

### Sources
- [Office mandates change how we think; adapting by becoming quieter, more cautious, and more focused on rule-following than value creation](https://www.reddit.com/r/fednews/comments/1x4wsll/office_mandates_change_how_we_think_adapting_by) - reddit-fednews