Expanding education opportunities for displaced federal workers

Georgetown University is among several Washington, DC-area higher education institutions offering tuition assistance and career services for the thousands of federal workers who have been displaced from their jobs by the Trump administration. 

“Over the past few weeks, the lives of thousands of public servants have been disrupted with reductions in staff at federal agencies,” Georgetown University Interim President Robert M. Groves said in a recent statement. “Facing this, deans and program leaders have asked themselves, ‘How should we live Georgetown’s mission at this moment? How could we support public servants who have lost their jobs? How can we support our students who face new challenges to being people for others?’ Our university response: we expand opportunities for education.”

This week, Georgetown launched a website highlighting resources for recently separated federal workers, which includes a 10% scholarship on the base tuition for many of its master’s degree programs starting in the 2025-26 academic year. For those applying to start a master’s degree in the 2025-26 academic year, Georgetown is waiving the application fee for all master’s degree programs and extending the application deadline to May 1 (or beyond for some programs). 

Applicants also may be eligible for additional merit aid in select programs. Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies is providing a 30% discount for a number of its short-term professional certificates for displaced federal employees looking to upskill, build new skills, or transition into a new career. 

Georgetown is also providing free career seminars for displaced workers, beginning with a March 31 session on “navigating job transitions and federal-to-civilian career moves” and an April 9 seminar on “staying resilient and navigating the job search after a layoff.” 

Additional regional opportunities

Northern Virginia Community College, meanwhile, has launched the NOVA New Employment, eXploration and Transition (NOVAnext) program, which offers free virtual workshops, certification, and skills training classes to unemployed federal workers and federal contractors in the Northern Virginia area. Workshops cover interview techniques, resume writing, and AI in the workplace, while the select free classes include information technology, entrepreneurship, and human resources and project management. George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts is also offering free music, dance, and theater tickets to recently displaced federal employees and contractors.