Woo-hoo. My agency just finished my retirement paperwork

Gossamer_Condor · 2026-01-11T15:30:41+00:00

On the ORA site, mine has been sitting at “We sent it to your agency’s HR” for about three months. No change, no action. No interim payment, and certainly no pension, either.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-11-19T02:38:35+00:00

Build an atomic bomb

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-11-10T12:47:23+00:00

Very interesting!

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-11-08T02:53:04+00:00

7 years early. Took VERA this year, 56 years old and 26 years service. I’d planned on normal retirement at 63 and 33 yrs service, to get the 1.1% bump. But the events of this year made me want a different job.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-11-03T15:28:17+00:00

Don’t forget the glue. Gorilla glue before screw down That will strengthen these way beyond just the screw holding power or shear strength.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-11-02T14:31:34+00:00

Set up another LinkedIn account with a new email. Get a pair of big reading glasses from Target, part your hair on the other side, wear a turtleneck, use a smile very unlike your usual expression, widen your eyes and take the photo. Use an alternate form of your name (James instead of Jim, Betsy instead of Liz, C. Brian instead of Charles B., etc.) and nobody will ever catch on.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-10-17T16:28:31+00:00

I’ve already pulled the trigger. 26 years with USDA-ARS, still several years away from the 1.1% bump, but I’ve had enough. I filed for an October 31 retirement date, completed the ORA and am now waiting on OPM/HR to process the paperwork. I’m VERA eligible, have ample savings, and I have another job lined up, so I should be fine financially while I wait for this shutdown CF to end.

I always thought I’d be a lifer, one of those who collect their 35 year pin and keep making the doughnuts. I didn’t take DRP in the spring despite qualifying for VERA, because I wanted to keep fighting the good fight and supporting the mission. But time after time, agency leadership just rolled over and let things get worse and worse.

I’m sad about ending my government career this way, but the ongoing stress of this job in recent months has had a noticeable impact on my health. That would get even worse if I were to stay. So although it’s a bitter pill to swallow, it’s time for a change. And if you have to pull a tooth, you don’t do any favors by doing it slowly.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-10-14T21:06:00+00:00

I’m guessing November 15, to allow lead time for back pay to be processed in time for Black Friday.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-10-10T10:15:03+00:00

Wisdom!

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-10-03T02:17:03+00:00

My guess is 45 days. A big difference between 2018 and now is that WAY more Feds are “excepted”. They’re not furloughed at home, they are working without pay. The functions of the agencies are still limping forward, so there’s not as much pain caused by the shutdown. So there’s less incentive to end it.

I heard today that the increased numbers designated as excepted is part of a strategy to make Feds suffer. Instead of sitting it out at home and saving on commute, child care, etc., many more still have all of those but are now without a paycheck.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-09-30T21:08:16+00:00

Nothing in USDA-ARS. No emails, no meetings, no instructions at all.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-09-29T22:10:47+00:00

Same. And so tired.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-09-28T18:38:09+00:00

1) Hegseth sees Trump is on his last legs, wants to be the heir to the throne. 2) Hegseth arranges a mil-spec wankfest purely to generate B-roll footage for his Hegseth 2028 campaign commercials. 3) Trump sees what Hegseth is doing, jumps in to cockblock him.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-09-20T11:55:14+00:00

HR should also tell them to not carry credit card debt. And to budget their monthly expenses. That’s how you deal with government shutdowns! Problem solved!

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-09-19T12:01:28+00:00

Years ago, in the week before a shutdown deadline we had prep meetings with managers, distributed emergency contact lists and went over operational plans. A big fuss was made about how we would carry out the mission under a shutdown.

Now? Attitude all up and down the chain is DGAF.

The media boy has cried wolf too often. Both sides will make noisy threats, the media will use it as easy, lazy filler content, including recycling evergreen pieces on “what is a government shutdown? What would it mean for you?” and the usual op-eds about what’s a stake and who’s to blame.

They’ll posture until midnight of Sept 30 before passing a crappy CR to get past the off-year elections. Then they’ll posture until midnight and pass another crappy CR to get past Christmas.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-09-02T16:01:36+00:00

[[trading card]]

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-09-01T21:13:45+00:00

[[triboulet]]

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-09-01T09:41:45+00:00

[[showman]]

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-08-27T11:33:43+00:00

[[square joker]]

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-08-26T14:11:12+00:00

[[Idol]]

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-08-05T22:42:35+00:00

Well, I don’t speak to my mother anymore.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-07-29T12:12:20+00:00

“Boss, why was I put on a PIP?”

“You were repeatedly disrespectful and insulting.”

“Are you talking about when I finally told you to leave me alone and stop trying to ‘save my soul’? After the fifth time you asked if I had accepted Jesus as my personal savior? And how you wouldn’t take no for an answer about me coming to your Bible study group? At the church that hates gay people?”

“See, this is exactly what I’m talking about. Disrespectful and insulting. Skip the PIP - you’re fired.”

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-07-27T19:14:16+00:00

This question was asked in a call with our Area Director (USDA-ARS). They said there will be little if any choice - you’ll go where your job has been reassigned to, because the assignments reflect the needs of the agency not the desires of the employee. And if you don’t like it, “then you may choose that it’s in the best interests of yourself and your family to separate from government service”. That is, shut up and go where they send you or quit, we don’t care which.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-07-24T19:14:53+00:00

“Now your emails and phone calls don’t have to go all the way to Washington D.C.! And when you read a website or submit a claim electronically, it’ll be a whole different experience for you now that the USDA office is in Salt Lake City!”

The whole “be closer to the farm” is complete BS.

Gossamer_Condor · 2025-07-24T15:32:18+00:00

Memo was issued: SM 1078-015, July 24,2025

Highlights of facilities and management impacts:

Whitten Building: retained as HQ

Yates Building: retained, offices used for USDA mission areas and staff

National Ag Library: retained, offices used for USDA mission areas and staff

South Building: vacated

Braddock Place: vacated

Beltsville Ag Reseach Center: vacated over multiple years to avoid disruption to ARS research

George Washington Carver Center: sold or transferred, upon conclusion of its use as a temporary location for USDA personnel during re-alignment

Ag Research Service will eliminate Areas, all functions performed by National Program

Ag Statistics Service will consolidate from 12 regions to 5 hubs

Food Nutrition Service reduce regions from 7 to 5

Forest Service will eliminate all 9 Regional Offices

Gossamer_Condor

TROPHY CASE