The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has returned to its headquarters in full swing, with thousands of employees reporting to work amidst chaos. Thousands of cars were parked on-site, long security lines snaked through doorways, and makeshift office spaces lacked basic supplies like chairs.
According to FDA staff, the first day back was a challenging experience for many, with employees facing hours-long wait times to park and find available space. Broken equipment and locked offices also made it difficult for them to get started. Many workers had to scrounge around for essentials like paper and chairs in conference rooms.
The agency’s main campus, which has 20,000 staff members, is not equipped to handle its full workforce. Employees shared cramped spaces with colleagues from different divisions, making it hard to hold calls and meetings.
A monthslong issue with Legionella bacteria was also still present, causing employees to bring their own drinking water due to concerns about safety. Despite this, the agency claimed all water is safe to drink, but details on testing results and corrective actions remain unknown.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/fda-return-office-parking-lines-chaos-federal-employees-c4fa013f27f286752e7b17a6e39c52e2