As part of Public Service Recognition Week 2026, the Partnership for Public Service hosted a webinar on how the public service community can effectively share their stories of service with members of Congress, as well as state and local leaders.
Led by the Partnership’s Ross Apter, Jackie Maffucci and Anushka Hebbar, the session offered practical guidance for federal employees, former public servants and community advocates to communicate the value of the federal workforce to elected officials.
Bring the federal workforce story down to the community level
Effective advocacy starts with being specific.
Rather than talking broadly about the federal workforce, attendees should focus on what federal employees make possible in local communities, such as disaster response, medical research, veterans’ care, infrastructure maintenance and countless other essential public services.
“You cannot have government services without a workforce,” Maffucci reminded attendees. When the workforce is undermined, the effects are felt far beyond the walls of an agency. Services are delayed, programs disrupted and local economies strained. Connecting federal work to these everyday consequences makes issues related to the career civil service more urgent and tangible for lawmakers.
You do not need to be a policy expert—your story is enough
Partnership staff reminded attendees that they do not need to have legislative expertise to meet with lawmakers.
“You do not need to be a policy expert,” Apter said. “All you need to know is your own personal story, because that is a powerful thing.”
Federal employees, former feds and residents who depend on government programs are uniquely positioned to explain what public services look like in practice and what happens when arbitrary workforce or funding cuts weaken them.
Speakers recommended preparing a short two-to-three-minute elevator pitch that explains who you are, your connection to public service and the real-world impact of the issue you want to raise. The goal is not to overwhelm a lawmaker’s office with technical detail, but to offer a clear, memorable story that illustrates why the federal workforce matters.
Every meeting should end with a clear ask
Storytelling alone is not enough—advocates should come into every meeting with a specific request.
That ask could be urging a lawmaker to publicly recognize public servants, conduct oversight of an agency’s operational changes, support legislation or note how federal workforce decisions are affecting constituents. Without a direct ask, even a compelling conversation will lose momentum.
These meetings should be viewed as the start of a relationship, not the end of one. Sending a thank-you note, sharing follow-up resources and continuing to engage with legislative staff over time can help turn one conversation into a longer-term channel for advocacy.
Advocacy is a long game
If there was one recurring theme throughout the webinar, it was persistence.
Whether a lawmaker agrees immediately or not, telling personal stories helps fill a long-standing knowledge gap about what federal employees do and why a professional, nonpartisan civil service matters. Congressional priorities shift, staff turns over, and policy windows open and close, but stories shared consistently over time will help build understanding that lasts beyond a single legislative moment.
To start, federal employees should identify their lawmakers, build their story and ask for a meeting. In many cases, the first step in defending effective government is making sure the people in power understand who keeps it running.
Actions you can take today
Visit the Partnership’s FedSupport Hub for concrete ways to make sure your voice is heard and ensure policymakers across the country understand your views and the importance of the nonpartisan federal workforce.
Use the USA.gov Elected Officials Directory to find your U.S. senators, representatives, governor, mayor, city council member and other elected officials.
Explore our Federal Harms Tracker to see how the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle our government and its workforce are affecting local communities, the economy, and science, public health and the environment.