DC metro here. My initial job hunting in early 2002 was rough - lots of laid off contractors and dot-com folk. Job fairs were a total bust - too many people to get noticed, especially as a junior dev without any .gov contracting experience (no TS/poly etc).

Got a few interviews and offers in the defense industry, but the lack of TS/poly was a killer - even companies that were willing to do the paperwork had deadlines and Uncle Sam couldn't process request fast enough so a few offers died on the vine.

Eventually got a job through a friend (usually how it works, IME) and have been here ever since. Not .gov, but sort of government-adjacent (higher ed) so still a bit protected from the vagaries of the market and moneymen's whims.