First, they were fired, then rehired. Now they are returning to the office.
Employees at the US Food and Drug Administration had to return to their physical offices by 17 March, except for those living more than 50 miles away, who must return by 28 April.
And just days before the scheduled return the Department of Health and Human Services sent out an email ordering staffers to stop displaying preferred pronouns while at work to adhere to President Trump’s executive order “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”
A copy of the email shared with Medtech Insight, dated 14 March, instructs government agencies to “remove all statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications or other internal and external messages that promote or otherwise inculcate gender ideology, and shall cease issuing such statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications or other messages.”
It specifically tells employees to stop including pronouns and nicknames their email signatures, allowing only full legal names. For profile photos, staffers can only use their official agency photos and cannot include any emojis, AI images, or any other non-official image.
A source told Medtech Insight that no other information or instructions were provided to staffers, nor have they received any word from The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), which represents FDA employees, as to whether the union plans to take action against the directive.
Medtech Insight has reached out to the union for comment.
Return to the Office
Additionally, FDA staffers, including those at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), described “total chaos” — mainly due to the commute and parking — as they adjust to the administration’s return to office (RTO) policy.
One staffer, who works in a field office outside of the main campus in White Oak, MD, said it takes him well over an hour to get into work, while another said her commute was over four hours.
“If you want RTO, fine, but do it the right way so that the mission critical work can be completed efficiently.”
FDA staffer
Additionally, staffers at White Oak reported long waits at security checkpoints. Employees must arrive as early as 5 am to secure a parking spot and get through security to get to work on time.
Making matters worse, a source said, CDRH offices “were swamped” with staffers from the agency’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) as the lease on the building formerly used by CTP has been terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, headed up by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
Excessive noise from cramped cubicles is another issue hindering work, the source said.
“Our jobs require constant discussions with subject matter experts to review medical devices. I can already imagine the negative consequences of swamping the buildings beyond capacity,” the source said. “If you want RTO, fine, but do it the right way so that the mission critical work can be completed efficiently.”
Another staffer said she needed at least 40 minutes to find a parking spot, also noting that there is limited public transportation to the White Oak facility.
“There is not enough space for everyone,” the staffer said. “I don’t think the agency had enough time to prepare for RTO.”
Though the union — as of publication — did not respond to requests for comment on the RTO directive, it does refer to the policy as “illegal” on its website and says the FDA leadership “has failed to adequately prepare for the influx of people to our facilities, and the return has been incredibly frustrating and challenging.”
Further, the union tells members looking to fight back to “document, document, document” as the “NTEU needs evidence of the ridiculous working conditions as we fight the multiple violations of our union contract, including this RTO order.”
Examples of these “ridiculous” conditions the union cites include overcrowded bathrooms and elevators, and long lines for food, water, and microwave access.
Last fall, Legionella — the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia — was detected in some FDA buildings. Though the FDA says the tap water at the White Oak facility is safe, officials advise against consuming it.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the FDA is recommending occupants refrain from consuming tap water at the White Oak campus. Where feasible, bottled water and/or water coolers are being made available for use,” the agency advises on its visitor information page.
The FDA last updated the page in September 2024.
“Every minute lost to overcrowding or procedural formalities makes it harder to carry out the agency’s statutory responsibilities.”
FDA observer
The union also points out several safety concerns, such as tangles of extension cords that could pose a tripping hazard or fire risk, and hygiene issues, such as lack of soap, toilet paper, and even personal protective equipment for lab workers.
Another staffer described having to work outside in freezing temperatures on a picnic table because the conference room at the main campus was at full capacity and that the only “quiet room” designated for meetings lacked WiFi.
“How are we supposed to be productive if I can’t speak during a meeting because it’ll disrupt people around me?” the staffer posted to LinkedIn. “Where can I take sensitive calls? This is a major problem.”
How the RTO and other administration policies unfold in the coming weeks and months remain to be seen.
Despite the chaos and uncertainty, however, the FDA will find a way to get the job done, according to one long-time agency observer.
That being said, “every minute lost to overcrowding or procedural formalities makes it harder to carry out the agency’s statutory responsibilities and serve the needs of the American public,” the observer said.
