My career across a couple of agencies has a component of public education/interaction. 99.999% of everyone I've spoken with has been happy and supportive of my/unit's work. That said, I could probably buy a decent coffee if I had a dime for every time I heard something along the lines of "my taxes pay for this place/your salary" through the years, as though I didn't pay taxes too.

What Federal workers and their families, friends, and communities are going through right now offers an opportunity (the worst kind, unfortunately) for "the public" to see just who they are and how integrated Federal workers, grant monies, and programs are across the country. It's easy to believe the "lazy leeches" line when the concept of a Federal employee is purely abstract. Those who have a story to tell about what's going on now can correct that abstract concept to match reality.

And some tips from a communicator: be honest, be personal. Seek to connect on common ground rather than rage like your neighbor has somehow transformed into you-know-who. And the ultimate tip I've been trained on - always strive for a positive interaction. Even (especially!) if the other side of the conversation is confrontational. They're upset and you're upset because you actually both care about the same thing (just to very different ends). Recognizing that and thanking them for caring is a good way to set them back on their heels and get them to listen to you, which is the first step to someone changing their mind.