Across the nation, public servants carry a burden that few in the private sector ever shoulder: a persistent (and loudly expressed) perception that they do not work hard, they are overpaid, they are lost in the swamp of bureaucracy, or worse, that they simply do not care.
These assumptions were amplified on the national stage last year when the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) took an axe to the federal workforce. Rather than collaborate with tenured employees who had firsthand insight on what processes needed to be reworked, DOGE told thousands of workers that their civic efforts were worthless and the country would be better off without them. In doing so, it continued a politically convenient narrative that has since had a chilling effect on state-level jobs and devastating impacts on real people. For instance, just hours after 2,400 Veterans Affairs jobs were dissolved, health care appointments for Illinois veterans were cancelled due to staffing shortages. We should all be concerned that the only efficiency DOGE delivered was deeper mistrust and disregard for those who keep our most fundamental systems running.
Public servants hold various roles in every pocket of government, from aides in the highest federal offices to staff in prominent state agencies to local bus operators, nurses and school district staff. For the last several years, I have been able to see inside Illinois’ own state government — first at the Board of Higher Education (IBHE) and State Universities Retirement System (SURS), and now at the Illinois Economic Development Corp. (Illinois EDC).
From the outside, these may seem like abstract institutions or line items in a budget. From the inside, they are made up of people who work relentlessly, often invisibly, to improve the future of their communities.
What I see every day is not indifference or complacency; I see professionals who work nights and weekends, who answer emails and take calls around the clock, who willingly navigate a sea of red tape, all to ensure their neighbors have every opportunity to succeed. These are people motivated not by bonuses or stock options, but by a sense of responsibility to help Illinois become stronger, fairer and more prosperous — and a belief that their work matters in making that happen.
Through Illinois EDC’s partnership with the state, and my previous work as chairman of both IBHE and SURS, I’ve witnessed firsthand the unique drive that propels public servants. These teams work tirelessly to achieve tangible results and improve outcomes for all: expanding access to education, attracting investment, bringing jobs to every region across the state, supporting businesses, and nurturing the conditions that result in long-term competitiveness and economic growth.
This work requires innovation, technical expertise, creativity, negotiation and persistence. It also requires patience — because success in equitable development is often measured over years, not news cycles. Public servants show up to work knowing that success is often anonymous, while failure — real or perceived — is readily attributed to “government.” They show up knowing that praise is rare and criticism is constant. And they do it anyway.
The truth is that state government is not some distant, unfeeling bureaucracy. It is a network of Illinoisans who live in our communities, send their kids to our schools and want the same things everyone else wants: good jobs, safe neighborhoods and a future worth staying for. Many could earn more and work fewer hours elsewhere. Still, they choose public service because they believe in the place they call home.
That doesn’t mean government is perfect or beyond critique. Accountability matters. Efficiency matters. Results matter. But dismissing public servants as lazy, overpaid or uncaring ignores the reality of the people doing the work — and undermines our ability to attract the talent needed to govern well. We cannot afford to drain the pipeline of hard-working people who are willing to go beyond dreaming of a better future.
As Illinois’ continues to grow its economy, strengthen its institutions, and compete on a national and global stage, we should be intentional about recognizing the value of people who choose to serve. Behind every program, every deal, every policy, there are dedicated professionals doing hard work on behalf of the public — often without recognition and always with care.
Public service is not the absence of ambition. For many, it is the very existence of ambition directed toward something larger than themselves.
John Atkinson is chairman of the Illinois Economic Development Corp..
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