r/DeptHHS

So I applied for the same job that I have been doing for more than 20 years before the RIF only to receive the following email today:

You are ineligible for this position because subject matter experts have determined you do not meet the required qualifications as described in the job announcement.

I have already responded to the agency POC and argued that the subject matter experts were wrong in their assessment. I also specified how I met and exceeded all the required qualifications in the job announcement and recommended that they reassess my qualifications.

But do I have any other recourse assuming they decide to stick with that blatantly unfair rating?

Sorry if it shows twice - I tried to cross-post this..

Hi all, I was affected by a RIF in 2025 and have been trying to return to federal service through USAJobs postings since September 2025. I’ve been applying consistently but not getting much traction.

I’m curious whether others are experiencing something similar, or if people are actually getting back into federal positions. Are you seeing referrals, interviews, offers, long delays, hiring freezes, etc.? If you've successfully returned after a RIF, what seemed to help?

Just trying to get a sense of what the current landscape looks like.

Has anyone heard if agencies will allow additional flexibility this summer with upcoming repair/closures on several major metro stops?

There is hope for FDA to improve with Makary and Hoeg gone. But the Office of Operations has a ridiculous amount of power and is making a mess of everything. Since Makary left, they have used this as a chance to seize even more power but everything they touch they make worse. Shared Services is a complete failure and places burdens on staff. OO is responsible for all of the RIFs and the inefficiencies of hiring. They have started to put their nose into substantive policies but they don’t know what they are doing, and are unable to learn. Putting political HR folks in charge of FDA was a huge mistake.

EDIT: I apologize for not recognizing the dedicated staff in OO who are being horribly managed by OO leadership. The problem is OO leadership and the expansion of their power, not career staff.

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I had no idea HHS was sending out phishing simulations. Now nonreporting could be elevated to leadership for accountability! Hope we can add this to our list of accomplishments during performance evaluations.

HHS specifically named as agency refusing to cooperate with GAO investigation into DOGE activities.

I know different offices are doing different things. Considering a role there.

My B/O recently announced that the amount of hours for ad hoc telework increased from 80 to 240. Our supervisor put requirements on how it can be used.

When talking to employees in other B/O's, it sounds like each division is giving their employees different requirements. Some B/O's say you can use it as needed (mild sickness, doctor appointments, caregiving, car troubles, whatever) while others make it sound like the employee needs to be experiencing a real emergency in order to use their ad hoc. Someone mentioned not being able to use it at all in their program.

Please weigh in if you can.

Hearing rumors about HHS RIF activities today. Has anyone heard anything credible or received notifications?

Anyone else inclined to decline the offer when it comes? Something feels very off about this to me. Am I the only one?

Trying to stay positive. Does anything really change for Feds if midterms flip enough seats? Each day is so tough to get through.

For all fellow fed employees, what are your plans for your kids this summer? Since we are back in the office 5 days a week - how are you navigating the kids being home? I can only pay for 3-4 weeks of summer camp, but the other weeks trying to figure out what to do. My kids are 5 and 7. Grandparents can only help out 1-2 times a week.

Heard from colleagues that some CDC employees were notified of change to Schedule P/C. Can anyone confirm which positions/GS-levels received notifications?