Working for the Federal government used to provide a solid pension, solid healthcare for life, and rock solid job security. The first has been mostly eroded away over the last decade. The last of course has completely evaporated over the past 3 months. AFAIK you still get healthcare for life if you manage to retire. All in all, I can absolutely see why someone would take the US civil service deal 20 years ago. Not so much 5-10 years ago.
Healthcare has also been eroded away as it is frequently needed to pay extra for concierge or direct primary care to be able to see a doctor, otherwise you are being seen by a physician assistant or nurse practitioner first.
