Aside from the military, there is honestly very little the federal government does well or with such expertise it could not be replicated in the private sector.
I live near Aberdeen Proving Grounds. They do tons of mostly secretive research on all kinds of stuff here. When sequester hit, many friends were griping about getting some days off work. I reminded them that the reason we even knew each other was that I lost my job and was out of work 6 months and moved my family 600 miles for a new position. My sympathy meter was broken. They never lived private sector and never thought about it. That said, they do vital work. Sounds like you are on that same level.
Living near D.C., seeing that unimaginably huge number of government workers clogging traffic and the metro train leaves one to wonder how many are truly necessary and vital. I truly believe many of them need the opportunity to try the real world for a while.
Support positions like yours are crucial and important.
Trust me, I would love to move in order to find a better job if the opportunity ever presented itself. My problem was that when the opportunity did present itself 6-7 years ago, I had family concerns that kept me where I am and prevented me from moving; once to Colorado Springs and once to Grand Forks (my father had a heart attack). Maybe it was Providence because I'm in a wonderful position now working for an air refueling squadron (these folks are great) but I really wish I was in a better paying position.
That said, the hatred I've seen for government workers from some here on FR is disheartening, but seeing the responses from folks like yourself is truly a blessing. Thank you.