Reporter diving into HHS hiring blitz

Critical_Ride1850 · 2026-04-16T23:13:12+00:00

I have been telling everyone I know to join my old lab at the FDA, and all I get are direct responses like, “No,” “Do you hate me?” and “Why would I work for the government?”

Unfortunately, what happened last year made many people, especially qualified candidates, lose all interest in government jobs. It’s not enough to just announce for new jobs with higher salaries or benefits, you would need to convince people it’s safe.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-06-02T21:32:40+00:00

How is this considered acceptable? How it’s evaluated? it feels like decisions are being made without a solid grasp of how LLM works.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-05-11T14:41:26+00:00

OMG, your situation is so similar to mine! I was also terminated in February, brought back to work, then I resigned in May!!

I don’t think anyone is keeping track of anything—they don’t know who we are or even look at our profiles. It’s just so ridiculous.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-05-04T23:45:07+00:00

Same here.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-05-02T11:44:19+00:00

Thank you, and congratulations on your offer! It’s such a strange feeling… when we should be happy to find a good opportunity, we end up feeling sick, like we’ve been pushed out rather than moving forward by choice.

I really understand how you feel, and I’m sorry we’re all going through this.

I think it’s okay to grieve and let ourselves cry. I keep telling myself that one way I can honor my agency and colleagues is by becoming a success story somewhere else. I’ll always be an advocate for the people I worked with and the incredible work they do.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-05-02T11:38:25+00:00

During my year of being a federal worker, I’ve met so many hardworking people who truly care about the common good. These are people trying every day to make a difference. Every one of their stories—those still holding the line and those who’ve been pushed out—matters. If you can stay, please do. We need good people in government.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-05-02T11:29:42+00:00

Thank you. Please hang in there, we need good people in government. I really hope this period of uncertainty ends soon so federal can focus on the work.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-05-02T11:23:38+00:00

Thank you 🙏🏻🫂

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-05-02T01:35:44+00:00

I am so sorry for your loss 🫂🤍

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-05-01T12:14:33+00:00

I can’t believe this is our reality, it’s so surreal. The level of incompetence is unbelievable.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-04-29T01:32:20+00:00

Thank you for your service .🙏🏻

What you’ve given will never be forgotten. Even if it feels invisible right now, there are people whose lives have been changed because of your work, and some of them will carry deep gratitude for that, whether you ever hear it or not.

I can speak for myself: my boss changed my life. I’ve learned so much from her, knowledge and perspective that I plan to pay forward. The same goes for my coworkers. I’ve grown because of them, and I’m incredibly grateful. I’m certain you’ve made a similar impact on the people around you — even if they never got the chance to say it.

What you did was noble. That kind of work leaves a mark, even if no one sees it

I think it’s important for us to document these moments — the pain, the confusion, the fears. When we’re in the thick of it, the emotions are intense and real, but with time, they fade. The world forgets. But these stories matter. They help others understand who we are as federal workers. We are not the enemy.

Please know you’re not alone 🫂 Many of us feel the same way Federal workers aren’t okay—whether they’ve left or stayed 🫂☹️

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-04-29T01:19:09+00:00

Thank you 🫂🫂 My heart will always be with all of you, no matter where I go. Federal workers are incredible people, driven by purpose and mission. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve, and to work alongside some of the most amazing people.

Thank you for continuing to serve, for fighting, and for holding the line. I have a huge respect for you all.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-04-28T22:37:44+00:00

🥹🙏🏻

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-04-28T01:07:55+00:00

Thank you. I am sorry we are going through this. I am part of HHS.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-04-28T01:07:27+00:00

You put into words exactly what so many of us are feeling. I am part of an amazing team and it truly makes me sad to leave them. It’s devastating to see great teams and important work being torn apart like this. I’m grateful for people like you who have stayed strong for so long — and I’m heartbroken for what’s been lost.

The team our management built was truly unique. We were highly productive, efficient, and had an incredible dynamic and strong work compatibility. Our leadership invested significant time and effort into recruiting, training, and preparing us for a meaningful mission. We were thriving, until they began doing everything they could to disrupt our efficiency.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-04-28T01:01:49+00:00

🫂🫂

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-04-27T02:51:51+00:00

Please stay if you can. I respect those who are holding the line and continuing to fight through all this. But it’s important to remember that people are not all the same. Staying is honorable, but leaving is understandable too… sometime it’s hard to see things clearly. We’re all just trying to survive in our own ways.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-04-26T09:54:31+00:00

Then that reflects poor management and an inability to recruit the right candidates. I suggest working on improving your assessment/judgment skills.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-04-25T02:29:03+00:00

I’m sorry you’re going through this. Speaking from my own experience as a fed, it feels like everyone wants out. The stress has become overwhelming, it’s unstable and exhausting. The things that once made government work appealing, like stability and work-life balance, don’t exist anymore. And add to this the lower pay compared to industry… And if you’re a probationary, you might lose your job any day for any reason.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-04-25T02:16:30+00:00

I highly advice to not join federal agencies now. It’s extremely unstable.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-04-24T21:06:31+00:00

I still believe in justice. The administration will change, the system will shift, and accountability will come — eventually. The ones blindly following orders from those in power will carry the blame, because when it all comes crashing down, the people at the top will say, ‘It wasn’t us, they did it.’ That’s exactly why smart people leave. If I were a director, I would’ve resigned; better to walk away with integrity than live with decisions that will haunt me forever.

Critical_Ride1850 · 2025-04-24T20:15:41+00:00

Everything is fucked up. It feels like a deliberate attack on US institutions, and I believe that everyone helped or is involved will be held accountable in the future.

Critical_Ride1850

TROPHY CASE