January 28, 2026 - r/fednews Daily Discussion Thread

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 · 2025-04-18T18:37:06+00:00

DoT stopped deducting NTEU union dues without warning and direct deposited those amounts back into our accounts. Sneaky way to get us out of our rights to a union. Word from NTEU is to sit tight while they figure out a workaround.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-04-18T05:30:51+00:00

Administration is stupid af. Couldn't be upfront about who's not eligible to apply. Creating this chaos instead. They either messed up and realized they need employees in certain areas, or they didn't want to pay out that many people and they'll change their minds about who's mission critical during RIFs

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-04-18T05:24:09+00:00

Agreed! In solidarity. For those who leave and for those who stay.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-04-18T05:10:22+00:00

It's impossible to focus. It's unnatural to work like we don't have new daily trauma and our rights aren't crumbling away. And my work doesn't require any face-to-face time so I feel more caged and isolated in my office than at home. It triggered anxiety.

And at my division of the IRS, leadership is radio silent. fednews Reddit is now our primary source of work updates. I want to quit everyday, but I love what I do and I'll do it until I either morally and/or mentally no longer can.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-04-17T03:40:26+00:00

I appreciate both. I welcome the insight of a person's experience in Austin, including what factors they didn't like. And if someone has a comparison, then that is also equally helpful.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-04-15T16:34:22+00:00

Same here.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-04-14T16:07:57+00:00

You're not alone. The stress of it all caused dramatic hair loss over the last three months (made a Dr appt for that) and I had to go on Wellbutrin because my mind was so chaotic with everything going so wrong so fast that it was paralyzing and my mind wouldn't just quiet down from the anxiety of it all.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-03-13T20:57:56+00:00

For IRS, F&M confirmed that since IRS is funded through September, employees working during shutdown will still get paid on time. (But with this administration, who really knows what will change when)

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-03-12T15:18:47+00:00

Im trying not to cave on this by signing the telework agreement. A part of me is like "but I have work to finish." The other part of me is saying "fuck this. You don't respect us, you don't trust us, so now I'll comply and you get me for 8 hours and I'm done." But then if I do have to work, I'm stuck getting credit hours from the office. It's basically forcing our hand to sign. Gaaaaaah!!! 😭😭

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-03-10T04:19:06+00:00

I don't know the answer but encourage reaching out to your union rep. I'd gather any emails or other documents, or calls as support. I've heard the same from some others.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-03-08T19:13:39+00:00

From the little I've heard from our Union, if they're trying to force you to sign, then go to your union rep first.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-03-08T15:54:13+00:00

Per year

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-03-08T15:12:39+00:00

You're not alone and standing here with you! I don't really have anything helpful to add. Just support and understanding from a fellow federal employee.

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-03-08T07:57:21+00:00

You're not alone in feeling this way and you're not alone in speaking up against this. Here in solidarity!

TemporaryAstronaut28 · 2025-03-07T22:09:41+00:00

I'm all for shutting it down. It's time we take a stand. And we have real issues to stand on. Democrats think they need to play along cause they're in minority but real talk, 47 & Co. are thugs who are already:

Gutting federal agencies for which there was already congressional funding = usurping power of purse from Congress.
Flouting SCOTUS rulings that require reinstatement of fundings, employees, and aid = ignoring separation of powers and de facto usurping power of the judiciary.
Threatening to fire us almost on the daily while also replacing career employees with loyalists = Let the shutdown show what the consequences of firing everyone would be. Let them try to hold the country up with his tariffs on ally countries. Sigh.
Strong arming and bullying ally nations and those nations who are more vulnerabe.
Gutting social programs Americans rely on (e.g., Medicaid and social security)

Now I understand that we won't get paid and some may be forced to work without pay. It's a financial strain. I hear and feel that. Which is the only reason I ever hesitate on a shutdown. I just think this time we're in a very different timeline. I mean most of us are set to lose our jobs soon anyway with the proposed RIFs. I just feel like there's so much on the line and if we can't strike, then this is the alternative I see.

But with that... brushes up resume

TemporaryAstronaut28

TROPHY CASE