DAYTON, Ohio — It’s been a little over a month since 75,000 federal workers accepted President Donald Trump’s deferred resignation program offer.

Since then, the federal workforce landscape continues to change with layoffs and government restructuring.

However, for many who took the offer, this is a chance to take matters into their own hands.

What You Need To Know

  • It’s been a little over a month since 75,000 federal workers accepted President Donald Trump’s deferred resignation program offer

  • Many, like mechanical engineer and military spouse Amelia Schweikart, have used the time and continued income to kick-start their own business

  • Schweikart said she has time to focus on a new path while spending more time with her children

Lately, life has looked a lot different for Amelia Schweikart.

For the past six months she had been working as a mechanical engineer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton.

“I signed paperwork two weeks ago that basically puts me on admin leave and says the federal government will keep paying me my normal salary and benefits and all of that through Sept. 30,” she said.

Schweikart is a military spouse and mother of two, with one on the way.

Having financial stability is crucial.

“This job that I took was supposed to go fully remote so that, whenever my husband was moved around the country, I could move my job with me,” she said.

Since her probationary period would last another year and a half, she knew she’d have to make a decision.

“If you’re a probationary employee also, they don’t have to pay you severance. So if you are laid-off, there’s no safety net as a probationary employee,” Schweikart said.

“This is a very rich severance package, and it really gives someone in transition time to look at who’s their market,” said Beth Gifford.

Gifford is a workforce specialist and adjunct professor at Cedarville University.

She said former federal workers, like Schweikart, who took the offer are finding themselves in demand.  

“Being transitioned federal workers are beginning to see that becoming an entrepreneur is their new next big thing. They are becoming consultants to the defense industry. They’re becoming consultants to local and state governments,” Gifford said.

That’s exactly what Schweikart is hoping for.  

“A lot of people get overwhelmed with a lot of technology,” she said.

Schweikart has taken the future into her own hands and used her technology back to start her own business called Top Tier Virtual Services.

“So helping a lot of small businesses in their early days getting their website set up, if they need a logo package, setting up their websites for search engine optimizations so the right audience can find them,” she said.

As a military spouse, running her own business gives her flexibility and control.

“I’m more empowered now instead of feeling kind of stuck," she said. "So it definitely turned the tables for me in a good way."