RELATED July 10, 2024 Persistently Vacant: Critical federal leadership positions go unfilled for years June 27, 2024 Making the Federal Government an Employer of Choice for Early Career Professionals June 10, 2024 The State of Public Trust in Government 2024 Back to Reports Attitudes Toward the Department of Homeland Security October 10, 2002 On behalf of the Partnership for Public Service, Hart-Teeter conducted two September 2002 focus groups among federal government employees slated for inclusion in the proposed Department of Homeland Security. Key findings included the following: Lack of information leaves federal workers with more questions than answers about the proposed department’s impact on them. Federal workers recognize the importance of fostering employee morale and human capital during a transition. Attitudes toward the proposed Department of Homeland Security are divided. Federal workers warn that plans for the new department must balance short-term and long-term gains. Job security remains a primary motivation to work in the federal government, and as a defining characteristic of the federal workplace, it limits the appeal for young workers. Download (22k)