FDA’s return-to-office chaos, probationary workers reinstated, and demotion fears

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) staff were ordered to return to their offices today, as the Trump administration has eliminated the ability of many federal employees to work remotely. Some returning staff said they faced long lines to get into the office, a shortage of offices, and limited furniture at the agency’s White Oak campus in Silver Spring, MD.

Focus has also learned that probationary workers at FDA who were terminated last month have been reinstated, though they will remain on paid administrative leave until further notice.

Three FDA employees who spoke to Focus and were granted anonymity due to fear of reprisal described long queues for parking and security, among other challenges prompted by the return-to-office order.

“It took over an hour for me to get past the first security checkpoint to get onto the White Oak campus and get through the second security checkpoint,” one source told Focus.

Two other sources told Focus it took half an hour to get through security, but that it took other colleagues more than an hour to do so.

Experts had warned that FDA’s White Oak campus does not have the capacity to house all its staff and requiring them to work from the office five days a week would pose logistical challenges. Those concerns have been realized, as staff told Focus that the agency has put out folding tables and auditorium chairs to create more workspaces for some of the thousands of workers who now must work from the office.

“It’s louder,” said one FDA employee. “There’s lots of noise through the walls, especially with new random spaces set up with no equipment like docking stations.”

The logistical challenges extend beyond office space and furniture. Focus has also seen a map of the White Oak campus circulated to staff, highlighting off-street parking for workers who cannot find a spot in the agency’s parking lots. Those who cannot find parking around campus have also been asked to park at a remote lot and take a shuttle into the office.

“They are leasing 1,300 [parking] spots in downtown Silver Spring to help the situation,” a source told Focus. “We were told if we can’t find parking on campus to go to downtown Silver Spring and take the shuttle.”

The source said there’s a general sense of anxiety at White Oak regarding the Trump administration’s reduction in force (RIF) effort. They also said they know of several people who have accepted the administration’s recent $25,000 buyout under the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP) because they didn’t want to commute to work.

"The FDA is following through on the President’s Executive Order regarding return to facilities. The FDA is grateful for its employees’ dedication and commitment to public health as the agency returns to campus and facilities. The FDA is continuing its return-to-office activities to ensure staff remain able to conduct their important public health work. The agency continues to provide its employees with up-to-date information regarding these activities, including workspace, security, parking accommodations, as well as public transportation and alternative commuting options,” FDA spokesperson Jeremy Kahn told Focus.

Focus has also learned that the agency held a virtual information session with 8,000 staff last Thursday on the administration’s RIF efforts. They were told that part of the RIF could include a “reasonable offer” to take a demotion of up to two general schedule (GS) levels and that staff who refused the pay cut would waive their right to a future severance package.

One FDA staffer told Focus that they would likely leave the agency if they were demoted and said such a move could lead to mass resignations across the agency.

“People were flabbergasted by the term ‘reasonable offer.’ It’s laughable.” said the source. “We'd have to take a low-paying job to get severance, whatever that means. There’s no way we could stay.”

Over the weekend, FDA also emailed probationary workers who were laid off in February to notify them that their terminations had been rescinded. The decision to rescind the termination orders is in response to a temporary restraining order in a suit brought by 19 states and the District of Columbia against various federal agencies that took part in the purge of probationary workers. In issuing the temporary restraining order, US District Judge James Bredar said the Trump administration illegally instituted mass layoffs without providing workers advanced notice.

In the email seen by Focus, the agency said probationary workers would remain on paid administrative leave until further notice.

FDA’s return-to-office chaos, probationary workers reinstated, and demotion fears

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