There's much less volatility working for civil service. There are worker protections and protocols that are well beyond at will or right-to-work laws, even if you're not in a union. (I couldn't be in a union when I worked as a civil servant because of my series (job group), but we got the majority of the protections and benefits that others could get. I was a GG-132. GGs are exempted service. We couldn't strike, do collective bargaining, etc.)
Most people hired by the government have very marketable skills. They could make more in the private sector; but they give up higher pay for protections of working for the government.
After this is all shaken out, please don't be surprised if they don't return or if "the best and brightest" don't even apply.
I thought the probationary period had expanded from one year to two years, but that may have just been for people in my field.
