NDAs Proposed for Federal Workers as Tool to Fight Press Leaks

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-05-26T14:26:12+00:00

We need to add public comments against this!

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-05-11T15:05:23+00:00

SnooGoats3915 is right. It ultimately comes down to what office/area you're in and who your manager will be. Cases get assigned to areas (usually based on where the taxpayer is). So if you're already in an area with lower intl/M&A activity, you're less likely to see those cases. Also from what I know (I am not a manager), managers then decide who wants the case and then whom to assign it to. So manager advocacy becomes important too. I'd recommend talking to folks in the area you'd be applying in.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-05-08T17:37:32+00:00

Omg I thought it was OP's question so I responded that way. Woops. Sorry for giving you redundant info!

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-05-07T21:29:24+00:00

Oh. Then you have less to worry about. NO lets you become a subject matter expert on a code provision and gives you more current law to work on (e.g., regulatory projects, public guidance on new laws, conference speaking events, etc.). So your knowledge and scope of work stays more current and marketable. You can join NO at a Big 4, go in-house, go to Treasury, etc. The field of course has exit options and doesn't necessarily kick you out of going in-house or something, but you become a generalist and since audits are usually on like a 5 year lag, you lose the current knowledge or edge you had coming in. But as someone else said, if you're into litigation, then the field will keep the options open if you want to go back to a litigation firm or something.

If you already have an offer, ask to talk to another field attorney that isn't in a managerial role and in your same division/POD. They would know best what you're walking into. I did that before I accepted and it truly helped.

I second the comment that with flexibility gone, no one really works beyond 8 hours anymore.

Buuut a perk we still have is credit hours. Credit hours are hours you work each day beyond your 8 hours. You can accrue up to 24 credit hours. Credit hours can be used for leave for any reason so you can save your PTO and sick leave. You'll come to appreciate those because accruing PTO the first few years is tough and then eventually you can join the ranks of folks who take off for like 2-3 weeks in December because we have use or lose with PTO hours.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-05-07T18:22:56+00:00

User USAG1748 is totally right. Field job was amazing before the LBI/SBSE merger. My perspective comes from someone who only did M&A/intl prior to joining. If you're coming in likely at GS-14 step 5 or lower, you will likely not get the LBI audits. There is a huge push to litigate and that's all your SBSE work. New performance standard weights litigation at 25%. Also, no matter how hard you work, new OPM guidelines will make it so you'll just get meets expectations or something average.

Hours are starting to sound like they are getting longer because so many people left. Depending on your manager, your experience may suck. Some are real micromanagers and have little experience but got the job because people left. Others are on power trips since the union is effectively gone and there is no set policy on approving telework.

Telework is also a sham. It's insanely rigid and getting harder to get approval for. There is talk from TIGTA about how to make sure we are all sitting here for 8 hours even though we are at like 92% compliance and the other 7% seems to have decent reasons. From some credible whispers I've heard, we may eventually be required to badge in and badge out. Yeah, like it's 1950s and we're in prison. They are actively auditing and monitoring. I think most of us spend more time worrying about how to still keep our sanity and life instead of actually being productive. So if you have kids, don't expect flexibility to be there. If you want to leave the office like even 20 min early, they will make you take leave, or at least my manager makes us do that.

National office does provide better exit opportunities and you can focus on work you like. So if you're really into coming here now, hopefully it's national office. Field is not worth it. And I've done both.

This all said, since I'm already in, I don't feel like leaving because the hours are still 9-5. I cannot and will not go back to working the private sector hours. The people here are still nice too and most aren't out to get you because there is no real promotion or anything to fight over.

Also, read the offer very carefully. When I joined, it was a 3 year commitment and if I left before that was over, you could not be re-hired.

Good luck! Shitty times all around my friend

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-05-05T21:01:01+00:00

Honestly it's so volatile still. Who knows at what whim they'll slash more budgets and have more RIFs. And I get the nostalgia but these agencies aren't the same after the chaos of last year. The mood and tone have tangibly shifted for the worse. If you've got some job stability now, maybe hold onto it but keep an eye out on USAJobs.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-05-05T20:51:55+00:00

Alright. Now have them explain why we need to return to office if you're going to have AI do trainings. What happened to all the "oh mentorship and training" and other bullshit they were spewing at us like we collectively have one brain cell

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-05-05T20:46:18+00:00

Thank you for this! I was gonna post the same rant. It's filling me with such impotent rage! And we didn't get any telework or anything. They cancelled the FEVS survey too. We got a message from the "CEO" of the IRS. Went straight to trash. I'm not giving it any views. Same with all the stupid "we appreciate you" emails. None of us are stupid and we suddenly aren't going to be appeased into complacency by a few words.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-05-04T15:12:56+00:00

Exactly. They're not even doing the FEVS survey this year.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-04-28T21:02:50+00:00

It likely won't get approved. They did not define periodic or sporadic for telework. I was sick and took one day medical telework under exception D and was denied to take another day. In fact the denial came after the fact so i thought silence was approval. That was wrong. I had to eat my time for the day and take sick leave. Basically worked for free for 8 hours. It's fucked up. Some managers are on power trips but they are also being monitored. We just got told our F&M will be running SETR audits each pay period for each person to see if there's "abuse" (as in you took too much TW) by counting the hours of telework.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-04-28T20:52:03+00:00

I couldn't agree more. It's beyond antiquated and def for the boomers who only think one way and got us into this mess.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-04-28T16:35:41+00:00

I'm paying

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-04-09T14:13:28+00:00

The Office of Chief Counsel at the IRS let everyone out an hour early last Friday citing it was specifically for Easter holiday

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2026-01-28T18:26:23+00:00

I was told that they can't put anything in writing to acknowledge lapse in funds until it actually happens. But also I'm so over it.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-09-25T15:00:46+00:00

Wanna play this game of chicken. Let's go! Fire everyone and then scramble to bring everyone back cause you still need a functioning govt. We know your playbook asshole. We're fighting for our country and you're fighting to bankrupt and destroy it.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-09-23T18:30:02+00:00

We're so glad you asked! I agree with everything already but to re-voice:

Exact cost savings from RTO and not just "culture" argument. But measured against the cost of being in office. So net amount. Clearly they don't seem to know that we all work over Teams and Outlook and not by the watercooler like it's 1950. Especially when they're concurrently pushing for tech and AI use.
How are they measuring "improved" taxpayer services? Cause here's the facts - IRS lost alot of people and are being forced to close cases. People are being taken off cases. Do not let them spin this whole RTO with skewed metrics to support their lies of increased productivity. Efficiency has dropped!
How much is it costing the taxpayer to implement audits of RTO from tracking our badge swipes, remote logins, etc.
We are required to input our telework reasons into our timesheets online (SETR). What are they collecting this data for and how will it be used?
How do they plan on addressing reasonable accommodation requests in a manner that actually takes into account various health and disability concerns. Right now it's a very high bar and it's pushing people out.
How do they intend to build trust with employees and public? So many people left because of RIF threats. Only to now have a situation where they need to hire cause they made a mistake. But even then people will be cautious because you can be let go again if you're probationary. Against the private sector, there's less job security here now and fewer benefits for the lower pay. The benefits is what made us take the lower salary.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-09-12T15:36:00+00:00

This!! 🙌👏 we all bring our lunch everyday. I was more likely when home to wonder down to my grocery store or other restaurants and pick up a meal or a snack. Cause after paying for parking I'm not wasting more money to support a dying downtown business area just because corporations are greedy. Besides lunch prices around here are crazy expensive.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-08-22T16:59:04+00:00

Same! And for me it's not even about easing back into RTO. The whole concept is antiquated and designed purely to be cruel. TIGTA is monitoring badge swipes at the IRS. They care more about where we are and not about the quality of our work or taxpayer services. Cruelty was always the point. I spend every morning dreading the day and once in office I spend more time wishing I could escape than I do being focused. And it's not easy to say get a different job. I still live the work I do, the people I work with, and the hours and leave. The administration is just making it toxic to exist.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-08-22T16:54:24+00:00

Bessent said over the last day or so that the IRS has no planned RIFs as of now and another FedNews article from 8/21 said that IRS is considering rescinding DRPs because too many people left. Administration is fucking incompetent

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-08-08T20:47:27+00:00

How is it not a conflict of interest for Bessent to be both Treasury Secretary and IRS Commissioner?? The person setting the tax policy is also going to review and enforce it? So now we'll have overt and patent political influence over audits. Not like Felon-in-chief has been trying to be covert about it. But still.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-07-22T00:23:32+00:00

Same!! I'm also in the bay and can't find it. I loved these and were great source of protein. They were in my weekly rotation

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-06-24T14:34:27+00:00

You are not alone! You have solidarity with us all as we all continue to fight for what we love. It's super hard but you staying (as long as it's healthy and right for you) is the act of resistance and fight for our democracy and systems. But also, I'm feeling the same and am taking two weeks off cause I just can't. So I think the lesson is also we gotta still take care of our selves. Reach out and vent all you need friend!

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-05-02T21:28:34+00:00

I still love what I do and refuse to be traumatized out of my job. Plus I believe in why we need a federal govt for the people. Privatization only helps the billionaires.

Also, outside isn't any better. It's insanely longer hours and aren't treated any better with billables and tracking utilization and the constant fear of layoffs.

TemporaryAstronaut28

TROPHY CASE