Thousands of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employees returned to on-site work Monday, encountering overcrowded parking lots, long security lines, and missing office supplies as the agency scrambled to comply with President Trump’s return-to-office mandate.
The White Oak, Maryland campus, home to half of the FDA’s 20,000 staff, was not prepared for the full return of its workforce. Employees reported:
- One-hour waits at security checkpoints
- Cars parked on side streets due to full lots
- Missing desks, chairs, and office supplies
- Employees “looting” chairs from conference rooms
Photos obtained by the Associated Press showed workers using folding chairs and makeshift desks in hallways. Employees also brought their own drinking water, citing months of Legionella bacteria concerns in FDA buildings.
The return-to-office order is part of Trump’s broader effort to reduce federal telework and shrink government agencies. Employees described the situation as “chaotic” and “detrimental to productivity”. The FDA has yet to address ongoing concerns raised by its staff.
Sources
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