So you are going to stay in the same place and you will not be able to move ahead, which is rather unfortunate in light of how important your work is.
Overall, you have a small team, which is good. We all agree that we don't want to waste resources, but you only have 28 employees. Yesterday, some members on your team received letters, letting them know that their positions might be at risk, as they are for 3,800 other public servants. Two positions of the 28 might be eliminated. Who are the two employees you can do without? What positions can you really do without?