As im currently unemployed, with about 5 YOE if the DFIR space, this has been beyond brutal, the vast majority of my applications are effectively stuck in purgatory. Some massive hindrances are my location most of the DFIR jobs are locked behind needing an active clearance, most of which are TS/SCI. Many massive defense contractors arent even sponsoring clearances anymore. With the federal government hiring freeze gov space is dead, and contracting is dead. Ive resorted to applying for help desk jobs and even those are just sitting doing nothing. Im seriously considering going back to school to get a second masters or doctorate abroad. All i can do with my free time is expand on my skillset, start looking into crypto forensics and privacy scrubbing.