From The Bulwark, a Substack blog….
Whiny, Entitled Federal Workers Demand Mold-Free Cubicles, Potable Water
The Trump administration’s government-wide policy proclamation of “remote work is over, y’all figure it out” has heaped an endless stream of indignities on the D.C.-based federal workforce. The latest of these: Remote-work employees returning to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s mammoth South Building this month were faced with disgusting working conditions, including mold in previously empty offices, undrinkable water in drinking fountains, roaches in the bathrooms, and notices about an ongoing “asbestos project” posted in shared spaces.
A union representing some of these employees circulated a letter documenting many of these concerns this week, saying they were requesting the agency provide “clear and enforceable health and safety protocols,” “requests for enhanced cleaning protocols,” and “confirmation that assigned workspaces are safe before occupancy.”
One USDA employee now working out of the South Building told The Bulwark that he’d spent “about two hours on my second day scrubbing moldy surfaces with my own cleaning supplies from home.” He also passed along a few pictures, which I should probably apologize for including in a morning newsletter: If you’re squeamish or eating, maybe skip on by these!
Employees also report that some are skittish about speaking out about their conditions—reasoning that the new administration’s “solution” to such a problem would simply be to place the building up for sale and lay them all off.
The White House declined to comment, directing questions from The Bulwark to the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture also declined to comment.
So not to be too much of an “old person” here, but having worked in the Yates Building.. many of us remember when the Holocaust Museum was being built, and the building next door which later became the Holocaust Museum cafeteria was being renovated. The rats from that building decided to relocate to.. the Yates Building, the nearest hospitable habitat.
The Wildife staff were in the basement at the time, and there was a rat problem, to the extent that some of the staff bought their own plastic squeaky rats to adorn their desks.
When cockroaches showed up, we contacted the building folks, who took care of the problem.
I don’t know that there were news stories about that, but without the internet, there were fewer news stories in general. OTOH, the writers already had a narrative
“The Trump administration’s government-wide policy proclamation of “remote work is over, y’all figure it out” has heaped an endless stream of indignities on the D.C.-based federal workforce. ” and was just looking for evidence to back it up.
These are deplorable conditions that reasonably should have been addressed prior to moving employees back into the work spaces. That is not how things are working now. However, this is the same issue that numerous employees in the field have been dealing with all over the nation for a long time and told that there is no money for facilities repair. Yep. Mold and all.
I heard that many FS buildings and rentals were mostly vacated during the “work at home” period. I wonder how many of them now have these kinds of problems?
I know for a fact that in R5, northern CA, in 2022 when employees were demanded to return to the office a couple days a week, at a Forest Sup Office, employees arrived to find mice poop and urine all over, an active mice/rat infestation, and absolutely no cleaning supplies or custodial services. They too, used personal cleaning products to try to make things manageable.
…….All the while the Forest leadership refused to show up for over a month, first due to “covid infections”, and then due to “training”, and then due to “extenuating circumstances”, while the employees with boots on the ground were told “show up or else”.
To add to my previous comment. In 2012 I had to call the California Governor’s Office to report that the Sequoia National Forest was forcing a pregnant woman to work in a basement that had mice feces and urine everywhere, in a hantavirus area. Even sent them a photo of a mouse peering over the desk top. The Forest Supervisor refused to deal with it. The Governor’s office called the Forest Supervisor and ordered him to deal with it. I’ve also assisted FS and NPS employees with toxic mold disabilities.
Lesa, just curious, did you try going to the Regional Office first? In the early 80’s I had a disagreement with my Forest Supe and RO HR overruled him. That’s one of the values of having an RO… when Supes go rogue…
Yes. I went to Randy Moore. His response was always, Thanks, Lesa I’ll look into it and mostly he did not do anything. He did nothing in this case.
What is wrong with people? What’s wrong with FS leadership to put folks in these conditions? I know we are only hearing one side of the story but holy crap! As a DR, I wouldn’t put up with these conditions for employees; as a Forest Supervisor, I sure as hell wouldn’t! As a leader, I always thought leaders could expect no worse than I, myself, would tolerate. I’m pretty much a low maintenance type of dude, but it’s gotta be clean!
As for the trouble with the FS currently, leadership has been a joke, and the proof of the pudding is coming home, just like the cows……
One more thought about the South Building.. the contracts for cleaning, maintenance, etc. were probably let during the prior Admin, so perhaps the contract inspection was not up to par during that time period? After all, as JFK famously said, DC is known to be a “city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.)” Maybe it never occurred to the new people coming in that “the USG is paying for maintenance contracts and yet the buildings aren’t maintained.”
If Agencies continued to own/lease these facilities at taxpayer expense, why did they not maintain them in serviceable condition?
If Agencies intended to continue indefinite remote work, why did they continue owning/leasing these facilities at taxpayer expense?
Agencies should have seen the writing on the wall when the Fortune 500 enforced return to office and Trump won an election on the promise of ending remote work
Those responsible for failing to maintain public resources and failing to provide safe working conditions should fail to continue collecting a taxpayer-funded paycheck.
When I was an Administrative Officer for the USFS umpteen years ago it was a constant struggle to get facilities funds to maintain buildings and other facilities. We did a lot of force account work but you still need funds for supplies and contractors. And if you found something toxic? Well, you just prayed you didn’t because there was no money to take care of it. I don’t believe the leadership fought very hard for that money though, because they were more interested in getting their timber, fire, etc. funding.