In this episode of Former Fed Friday, Shelley McGuire sits down with longtime federal HR leader Traci DiMartini for a candid look at what the past year has meant for the federal workforce. Their conversation digs into what Tracy sees as an unprecedented breakdown in protections for federal employees, what it would look like if similar upheaval happened in the private sector, and how agencies should be thinking about the real cost of treating workers as expendable. They explore where automation and AI can actually help HR teams—and where human judgment will always be essential, as well as the long-term consequences of losing so much institutional knowledge across government. Tracy also shares her perspective on how contractors fit into the rebuilding effort, why strong fed–contractor relationships matter more than ever, and why HR must be treated as a strategic partner rather than a back-office function. To connect with Traci visit her on LinkedIn here. If you liked listening to this episode, view our Former Fed Perspectives page here. To view all of our podcast series, visit our podcast page. Thank you to our sponsor vTech Solution.