Fired federal scientists in the US reflect on a year full of unrest related to government shutdowns. An article published in the February 2026 issue of Science (Volume 391, Issue 6787, Pages 751-752) describes their experiences after being laid off due to budget disputes. The administration of President Trump announced the dismissal of at least ten thousand employees of federal offices during the shutdown. Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said he expects more than 10,000 layoffs and further cuts to the agency's operations. The shutdowns caused a partial suspension of funding, including short-term funding for the Department of Homeland Security until February 13. The disputes were preceded by disagreements in Congress over immigration policy and incidents in Minneapolis where agents shot two Americans. Scientists assess the impact on their work and research after a year of turbulence.