Job security in public health

I haven't worked in public health, but something to consider is that the federal government also has a lot of public health positions, not just states.

I'll be honest, I have concerns about my job security with this new administration. They haven't really promised to be friendly with Title X funding, which provides funding for family planning clinics like the one I work in. I haven't seen lay offs with budget cuts in Colorado, though there are certainly some positions that are grant funded and are only guaranteed through the duration of a grant, but that's made clear when you take such a position. There will still be roles for nurses in public health whatever the administration, but what those roles look like may differ depending on how the funding changes or evolves. And, too, some states have very generous funding to their local public health departments and might not have as much of a problem with dwindling federal funding. In President Trump's document detailing his plans for the first 100 days, he did mention a federal hiring freeze for many areas except department of defense and public health. So, you'll probably still be able to find positions with CDC or other federal level public health agencies, especially if you live in Georgia where CDC is headquartered.

However, it really feels like the wild west to me. No one knows what will happen. My advice would be if you are interested in public health, go for it, regardless of the current climate. You'll never know if you don't at least try.