The seismic effects of Donald J. Trump’s significant electoral win have reverberated throughout every facet of Washington. However, the sharpest tremors are being felt by the capital’s federal workforce—an expansive body of 2.8 million predominantly unseen employees often derisively labeled by Mr. Trump as “the deep state.”

Few ideas have captivated the attention of the former and possibly future president as much as the conviction that his executive authority has been undermined by a coalition of unelected bureaucrats. During his inaugural rally of the 2024 campaign in Waco, Texas, Mr. Trump characterized the federal bureaucracy as a national foe, boldly asserting, “Either the deep state destroys America, or we destroy the deep state.”

His determination to pursue the latter goal is a prominent aspect of Mr. Trump’s official agenda, referred to as Agenda 47. Insights gleaned from extensive interviews with officials across eight federal agencies indicate a widespread belief that Mr. Trump and his associates are fully committed to this mission. Nevertheless, the specifics of how this confrontation with the bureaucracy will unfold, as well as the reactions of government employees to it, remain pressing questions.

“There’s definitely anxiety, no question,” noted Thomas Yazdgerdi, president of the American Foreign Service Association, which represents approximately 28,000 current and former employees of the State Department. He recounted that diplomats have been approaching him with concerns like: “Is my job going to be secure? Will they shut down my bureau? What will happen to my role?”

Many veteran federal employees have expressed a profound weariness at the mere thought of enduring another term under Mr. Trump’s administration. “I believe there will be a significant exodus among the one-third of our workforce that is eligible to retire,” stated Nicole Cantello, a former attorney at the Environmental Protection Agency, speaking on behalf of the agency’s union, which she represents. “A large number of them will be unwilling to relive the intense hostility they faced four years ago.”

However, it is important to note that most federal workers do not possess the luxury of retiring or transitioning their skills to the private sector. The apprehensions surrounding the incoming administration extend far beyond the typical uncertainties associated with a new president’s policies and leadership team.