Sources: FDA won’t pay bonuses to RIFed, similar employees

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will not pay performance-based bonuses to employees who are part of several Trump Administration efforts to reduce the federal workforce. The lead federal union said it will challenge the decision.

Like other federal employees, FDA staff are evaluated annually as part of the Performance Management Appraisal Program (PMAP), which allows them to receive a bonus in the form of cash, time-off, or a combination of the two based on their previous year’s performance.

While FDA employees expected to receive bonus compensation for 2024 performance in May or June 2025, the agency told staff it will provide bonus compensation to “only employees who are not scheduled to separate, via voluntary or involuntary program,” according to a 9 July internal email reviewed by Focus.

"Employees who separate from the FDA (including but not limited to: retirement, resignation, or reassignment) or convert to Executive or Commissioned Corps appointments before the pay period of the awards payout will NOT receive an award," the email said.

"Employees on administrative leave due to accepting the Deferred Resignation will NOT be eligible to receive a performance award," the agency added. "Employees who have received notification that their position is impacted by the Reduction in Force [RIF] will NOT be eligible to receive a performance award."

One employee from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), who was placed on administrative leave as part of the RIF in April, told Focus that they do not believe they will get a PMAP bonus.

The employee, who was granted anonymity due to fear of reprisal, told Focus they felt the process was delayed to avoid paying staff who were affected by the RIF. “Especially when many of us could use the money for basic necessities like medical needs. It’s really disheartening as a long-time [federal worker], as an American citizen, and as a parent to young children.”

Typically, employees who leave the agency after the end of a performance year but before the PMAP bonus is paid do not receive a bonus, the source told Focus.

The PMAP payout has been a contentious issue at FDA for several months. Recently, someone at the agency posted a sign in the cafeteria at its Silver Spring headquarters tallying the number of days since employees received their last award. An agency source shared with Focus a photo of the sign taken in June, when it stated, “388 Days since last PMAP award.” The sign was removed a few days later, the source said.

A day before the PMAP policy was announced, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary sent a video message to staff, explaining that the delay was caused by an external bureaucratic issue.

“It was a problem deep in the bureaucracy government outside of FDA and we were able to fix it so people will be getting their PMAP performance awards in the next couple of weeks, by the first week of August, at the latest I'm told,” he said in the video reviewed by Focus. “Sorry for the delay. It shouldn't have happened.”

FDA employees who spoke to Focus aren’t persuaded by the commissioner’s narrative that it was an unforeseen bureaucratic delay.

“We all knew that [the payouts were delayed because they didn’t want to pay all the staff their PMAP awards], and then the email today confirmed that,” a senior source told Focus.

They also said that, except for his video messages, Makary has kept staff at arm’s length. "He isn't even accessible,” the source told Focus. “He has no email address in our directory.”

The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) emailed its FDA members on 10 July to state that it will fight the FDA's decision not to pay PMAP awards to all eligible staff. The union said it has already taken steps to challenge the decision by filing court actions to ensure that employees severed as part of the RIF are reinstated and that all PMAP awards are restored.

"This action by senior FDA leadership is yet another example of how they continue to dismiss the dignity, respect, and humanity of the employees who make this agency run,” said NTEU in an email seen by Focus. “It sends the message that your contributions only matter when convenient for the agency - and that even when you've fulfilled your duties admirably, you can be erased from recognition and compensation without remorse.”

The CDRH source said the treatment of FDA staff threatens the agency's stability and has hurt morale.

"Most people I know are contemplating leaving," they said. "This kind of treatment continues to erode morale and trust in leadership (if there was any at all).”

Sources: FDA won’t pay bonuses to RIFed, similar employees

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