Federal Employees and Contractors Oral History Project
Federal Employees and Contractors Oral History Project
A collaboration between the Organization of American Historians and the Volcker Alliance.
The Federal Employees and Contractors Oral History Project (FECOHP) is a national initiative to document the voices and experiences of federal workers and contractors affected by government disruptions, terminations, and contract cancellations that began in January 2025. Launched by the Organization of American Historians, with support from the Volcker Alliance, this project will collect and archive hundreds of oral histories to capture this pivotal moment in American history—preserving institutional knowledge, elevating public understanding of federal service, and spotlighting the people behind public work.
Project Goals
Spotlighting Contributions of the Federal Workforce
The FECOHP will highlight and preserve the diverse roles, expertise, and societal contributions of civil servants and contractors across federal agencies through firsthand accounts.
Document Personal Experiences Amid Change
The project will record how individuals have navigated the upheaval in their professional and personal lives following the 2025 federal workforce disruptions, revealing underrepresented perspectives about government work and public service.
Build a Lasting Archive of Institutional Knowledge
By collecting hundreds of oral histories, the FECOHP will safeguard expertise that might otherwise be lost, ensuring it remains accessible to scholars, educators, policymakers, the public, and future generations of public servants. The interviews also provide rich insights on how government can be strengthened for the future.
Raise Public Awareness About Federal Service
The project seeks to raise the general public’s awareness of the value of civil service and the vital role of public servants by sharing authentic stories that humanize federal work.
Ensure Broad Accessibility
A searchable, open-access digital archive will make these oral histories available to the public, with selected interviews accessible immediately and others preserved for future research and study.
Get Involved
Hundreds of individuals have expressed interest in sharing their stories, and dozens of volunteers are stepping up to help. If you have a story to tell—or want to help document this historic moment—we invite you to join us.