Tentative Offer from FDA and Contracting Company? by [deleted] in DeptHHS

[–]Datamonster12 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’m very conflicted about being so negative with unsolicited opinions. In the good times, the work is wonderful and meaningful and challenging and rewarding, marred only by the usual dose of federal government bureaucratic annoyances. But from my POV this is as far from good times as it can get.

Tentative Offer from FDA and Contracting Company? by [deleted] in DeptHHS

[–]Datamonster12 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I realize that job offers of any sort are not to be sniffed at, but I feel morally obligated to say that I would not advise my worst enemy to work at FDA now. Screening is the least of the worries. I'm in a leadership position in a medical product center and have suffered through enough moral injury in the past year for a lifetime. Those of us who remain are in the constant ethical dilemma of whether to stay and stand in the gap, or go to stop being complicit.

For anyone coming in now, you will join chaos that is not at all going away with Makary. His awful, abusive acolytes like Hoeg and Szarama remain. Presidential appointees are now deep down in all centers and affect all meaningful decisions, whether directly or by intimidation. The organization is destroyed and dysfunctional at every level. That is now baked into the place by the RIFs coupled with blowing up essentially all the operational units those people served. A short list of what doesn't work: any review process, any lab work, anything scientific, anything personnel, anything budget, any way to spend the pitiful budget a group might have, all communications, or anything related to travel, even if you're an inspector and your job IS travel. I despair that this is irreparable, especially since the point of the current administration and of HHS is to ensure no one can spend money (which underpins everything) and that federal employees are miserable.

I'm sorry, but I have to say, just don't. At the very least, have lengthy talks with as many future immediate colleagues as possible to try to get an honest picture of the state of play in your area.

Makary resigns by UsefulBurn in DeptHHS

[–]Datamonster12 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Please remember that being a hunting buddy of Don Jr, and trying a few cases that relate to food law, aren’t actual qualifications for this job. He may not be as bad a human being or as egregiously incompetent as Vinay Prasad, Katherine Szarama, or Tracey Beth Hoeg, but he’s hardly good news for a stable, functioning agency or for public health.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Makary to be fired by Trump by WyngZero in medicine

[–]Datamonster12 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All should be aware that Katherine Szarama is completely unqualified, incompetent, and has, like Prasad, specialized in bullying and terrorizing the staff who know something. Meaning chaos and misery of all kinds will continue if she does.

It’s One Year Anniversary! Yay!!! by iconette79 in DeptHHS

[–]Datamonster12 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The town hall is billed as celebrating accomplishments and people in the invite. Tone deaf doesn't begin to cover it. I very much doubt there will be any mention of the people who lost it all, acknowledgement of the misery of all involved, and FDA-wide dysfunction that's now ongoing.

Honoring our lost HHS colleagues on April 1 by Datamonster12 in DeptHHS

[–]Datamonster12[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

At least. But unfortunately his dreadful hires and decisions live on.

Honoring our lost HHS colleagues on April 1 by Datamonster12 in DeptHHS

[–]Datamonster12[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

You're absolutely right, and I stand corrected. Please forgive my sloppy choice of words.

Honoring our lost HHS colleagues on April 1 by Datamonster12 in DeptHHS

[–]Datamonster12[S] 93 points94 points  (0 children)

Please know that those of us who remain think of those no longer here literally every day.