How bad will it be to be a fed?

[gretchenindisguise]

I was a civilian employee for 8 years and left and am far into the process of being rehired by the same place but different location.

How bad are the next 4 years going to be? I don’t know what to do.

[candreco]

I think it's going to depend a lot on the specific agency. At least last time DoD wasn't really affected too much, at least in my area. The thing about bureaucracy is that it just keeps chugging along and changing its direction is hard and implementing new policies is slow.

Now, if they get their Project 2025 wish to completely gut the federal govt, then who knows. I don't even know how that works, could he just sign an executive order firing everyone? There are still employment laws on the books (for now).

[tacoflavoredkisses]

Nov 6, 2024 10:06:52 GMT -5 candreco said:

I think it's going to depend a lot on the specific agency. At least last time DoD wasn't really affected too much, at least in my area. The thing about bureaucracy is that it just keeps chugging along and changing its direction is hard and implementing new policies is slow.

Now, if they get their Project 2025 wish to completely gut the federal govt, then who knows. I don't even know how that works, could he just sign an executive order firing everyone? There are still employment laws on the books (for now).

Definitely think it’ll be agency by agency. My DH is a fed and Trump 1.0 was mostly fine for his agency, although they had a lot of difficulties with getting appointee positions filled.

I do expect that his telework agreement will go out the window, and we live a good distance now from DC proper that it’s going to completely upend our daily life having him required to go in every day. While I don’t work full time anymore, we have a kid with special needs and I have relied on his flexible schedule to be able to handle a lot of her appointments. Can’t wait to deal with that.

[Beeps (WOT?*)]

Grand just learned yesterday that she is getting medically discharged from the military. She was going to school for environmental studies (of some sort) and the idea was to work with NOAA (her grandfather worked there for 21 years) or something similar, but I doubt there will be a NOAA. Or a civilian job for her in the field at this point. Yesterday was a really crappy day for her, and this thought won't be any better. She's trying to figure things out and this will be a crapfest for her plans. Oh, and it was her birthday. Her 21st. At least she didn't go out and get fit-shaced to celebrate/mourn this mess.

My mother-in-law worked for the USDA her entire career. Her husband worked for them for a number of years. There is a huge research facility in Greenbelt, MD, not far outside of DC. Developers have been salivating for that property for decades. I'm almost afraid there will be no more research facility and no more Department of Agriculture in the very near future. One or more of Trump's buddies is going to build on that land. Or maybe his son-in-law. Or maybe they will put a shiny new Trump hotel on the property. My eyes are hurting just thinking about that possibility. I won't ever drive through it again but it's where my husband worked for a time to pay for college/law school, it's where my MIL got her first job and start with the USDA, it's where my FIL was the head of maintenance, and it's where we cut through on the way to my husband's grandparent's house just a few miles away, the house where my MIL grew up.

Not that any of this is relevant to the question. I'm just in mourning.

[gretchenindisguise]

Pdq

Its with DoD, which is where I was before. I was there through trump 1.0 and you’re right, there wasn’t much direct impact.

I am worried about heritage foundation posting of lists. And this position is 3 days tele and 2 days in office by design. That is part of the draw, and I hope it would stay, I don’t think they have the office space for more.

[Scout'sHonor]

I'm at CDC, so I'm incredibly worried. He already fucked us over so much during the pandemic, now we'll probably have wormhole head in charge.

[Velar Fricative]

I think since the lengthy shutdown during his first term is collectively forgotten, there will be more of those. So boosting savings wherever you can would be something I’d consider. Easier said than done, I know.

I was looking into fed jobs recently and decided to wait until after the election to see how everything looks. I think I’ll have to pass on opportunities I see that might otherwise look good to me.

[sju]

Definitely agency specific

[Beeps (WOT?*)]

I just want to like the above post because it mentions SecPete and wonderful in the same sentence.

[wildrice]

I don't have any answers, but I am worried about this too. I didn't even think about the telework thing - my H is a fed contractor and definitely isn't going to want to go into the office 5x a week, not to mention we would have to buy a second car which would impact our budget. His job falls within DoD but it's not an area that is likely to be supported by a very conservative government.

I do not work for the government but my agency is a largely government funded social services organization, so I'm a bit concerned there too. Neither of our organizations were defunded during the first term, so I am not sure how much of my concerns are valid vs just imagining worst case scenario.

I do think it's time to tighten up the budget and try to pad savings as much as we can.

[nicanmatt]

My project is funded by NOAA. I'm nervous what this will mean moving forward. My sister works with refugee resettlement agencies, the only time she's ever been unemployed was during his last presidency. But now she has 2 kids in college and her husband switched careers to teaching. I'm so sick to my stomach today.

[rubytue]

I am hella concerned. I’m at a small regulatory agency. I’ve never mentioned which one because it’s so small, but also impacts everyone daily, especially parents. In fact, I’ve written regulations that you all have discussed at length here lol. Don’t try to guess, I won’t share.

My current position is not regulatory management. But, I can’t figure out how one is going to make the argument it’s not policy. 99% chance it’ll be a schedule F position when that is re-enacted. I am scared as shit that I’ll lose my pension when that happens.

Realistically, we got through the first one relatively unscathed. And hopefully, this will be more like the second bush term, we we just didn’t do anything.

edit: the one advantage to being small is we get ignored. 

[Alex]

Y'all are in my thoughts. I'm a Canadian fed and we have a party leader that is also promising to gut the public service if elected. It's scary to think of the important services that will be affected and the expertise lost.

[ssmjlm]

I'm in DOD. I don't think the agency will suffer, but everything we get through OPM will. Bye bye health insurance and TSP, etc. I'm really worried about benefits.

[niemand88f]

I'm not a fed, but at least 90% of my work's funding is from NIH or CDC. I'm really worried about funding cuts. I know my position would be safe (unless they completely eliminate the programs altogether...) but my workload is already maxed out so I don't know what would happen if we had to cut staff.

[Vespasia]

Not a fed but I work in clinical research for an already somewhat underfunded @ subspecialty. FDA and NIH factor heavily into what my org is able to do. Things were a bit dicey under his first administration but we're expecting it to get a lot worse. 

[1confused1]

Fed contractor here. I’m worried.

[Bernadine]

I’m a Fed at an agency that is ripe for gutting. I’m terrified.

[rubytue]

((( Bernadine)))

H and I just discussed renting out our basement as a security blanket.

[ECB]

I have a friend who is a fed in a department that trump said he was going to dismantle. She’s scared. She’s meeting with her financial advisor about what to plan for if she does lose her job. He was like “you don’t think that will really happen, do you?” And she said that’s EXACTLY what trump said he would do and she was met with silence.

I don’t know how her advisor votes, but my reaction is “why do all these assholes who say trump tells it like it is also express shock when he DOES WHAT HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO!?!?”

[gottadobe]

Nov 6, 2024 12:38:52 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Bye bye health insurance and TSP, etc. I'm really worried about benefits.

Where have you read our benefits are at risk?  Especially TSP...
I'm trying to find reliable sources - TY!

[rubytue]

Well, I’m back at work today. Looks like yesterday went on as planned. We did get one email that basically we are directed to “should encourage all meetings [with external stakeholders that are typically elsewherr] to be hybrid” and basically… no more travel. Anticipating major cuts.

I also expect our 4 days/week of telework to end.

I really regret not putting in for early retirement when it came around last summer. It was literally two weeks after Harris took over and I was so pumped on the energy. If we see another one, I’m out. I have someone ready to move into my basement, which would cover 1/3 of the mortgage (more if I charged market rates).

After 23 years, I’ve been through several administrations. And the mantra was also “they come and go, we will outlast them.” But I’d be done if I could. I expect many of our retirement eligible to say fuck it, I’m out.

Oh, and I feel the fight when the CR ends Dec 20 to be really bad. My crystal ball says we are shutdown for Christmas. Note to self, check use or lose.

[rubytue]

Nov 7, 2024 9:08:24 GMT -5 gottadobe said:

Nov 6, 2024 12:38:52 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Bye bye health insurance and TSP, etc. I'm really worried about benefits.

Where have you read our benefits are at risk?  Especially TSP...
I'm trying to find reliable sources - TY!

Not benefits, but pay. Removing locality for anyone who teleworks. www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2024/10/senate-bill-targeting-teleworkers-locality-pay-now-has-its-companion-house/400460/

trying to find a source for also removing locality for pension calculations. Oh.. bottom half if this article www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2024/08/cassidy-ties-proposed-30-pay-and-benefits-cuts-federal-telework/398574/

[gottadobe]

Nov 7, 2024 9:30:05 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Nov 7, 2024 9:08:24 GMT -5 gottadobe said:

Where have you read our benefits are at risk?  Especially TSP...
I'm trying to find reliable sources - TY!

Not benefits, but pay. Removing locality for anyone who teleworks. www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2024/10/senate-bill-targeting-teleworkers-locality-pay-now-has-its-companion-house/400460/

trying to find a source for also removing locality for pension calculations. Oh.. bottom half if this article www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2024/08/cassidy-ties-proposed-30-pay-and-benefits-cuts-federal-telework/398574/

Thank you, I will go read those!

[ssmjlm]

Nov 7, 2024 9:08:24 GMT -5 gottadobe said:

Nov 6, 2024 12:38:52 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Bye bye health insurance and TSP, etc. I'm really worried about benefits.

Where have you read our benefits are at risk?  Especially TSP...
I'm trying to find reliable sources - TY!

Oh I'm just going complete dystopian once he's in office. He'll get rid of OPM if he can.

[ssmjlm]

Nov 7, 2024 9:17:54 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Oh, and I feel the fight when the CR ends Dec 20 to be really bad. My crystal ball says we are shutdown for Christmas. Note to self, check use or lose.

We're here in our office. I just burned the last of my use or lose with a long weekend. I have some travel comp I don't want to lose, but I have into 2025 to use that.

[rubytue]

Nov 7, 2024 9:44:15 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Nov 7, 2024 9:17:54 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Oh, and I feel the fight when the CR ends Dec 20 to be really bad. My crystal ball says we are shutdown for Christmas. Note to self, check use or lose.

We're here in our office. I just burned the last of my use or lose with a long weekend. I have some travel comp I don't want to lose, but I have into 2025 to use that.

Oh snap.. I didn’t think about travel comp. I just have 1.5 left. And I will most likely burn through that easily. I use travel comp for when I’m late to work, so I don’t schedule it. But I know me, and I will burn through that in a month or 6 weeks. I am not a morning person lol

[rubytue]

By the way, if you aren’t already there, r/fednews is really useful to keep up with changed to things. And discussion of FEHB and all sorts of stuff. The downside is you learn how much admin leave other agency heads give out.

[gretchenindisguise]

Thank you all for the thoughts. I think the potential for chaos is too high. A large part of my rationale for this position was stability. Lolsob

[wise_rita]

Any thoughts on on-the-ground medical care for veterans?

I expect the VA would be pretty untouchable, but I assume nobody will be left untouched from the forces of evil.

Reproductive care, of course, but am I missing something?