NIH Employees Return to Work Amid Layoff Concerns and Support

BETHESDA, Maryland — Federal workers returned to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Monday morning, greeted by supporters holding signs and singing songs of appreciation.

This marked the first time many NIH employees entered the office since the COVID-19 pandemic. As they exited the Medical Center Metro, workers were overwhelmed by the warm reception, with some expressing their emotions through tears.

“Really sweet. Yeah, it’s hard to come back,” one returning employee told WTOP, choosing to remain anonymous. “To feel the support, it’s really special.”

Lawrence MacDonald, a member of Third Act who helped organize the rally, emphasized the significance of NIH. “NIH is a global treasure. It is the best medical scientific research organization in the history of the world. It develops new cures and treatments for diseases that are not developed anywhere else in the world,” MacDonald said.

However, uncertainty looms over these employees as the Department of Health and Human Services, overseeing NIH, announced plans to lay off 10,000 staff. Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. described the agency as an inefficient bureaucracy, igniting fear among employees.

“A friend of mine who works for NIH said they’re expecting to get a Reduction in Force notice any day,” MacDonald added. Amid the anxiety, one young supporter handed out flowers to employees wearing federal badges, stating, “All these people coming back to work matter, and they’re important.”

Meanwhile, a parallel job fair was held at Montgomery College in Germantown, targeting federal scientists likely facing layoffs. Approximately 120 scientists registered for the event, with nearly 200 more on the waiting list.

Nick Droste from Bora Pharmaceuticals mentioned the job fair could provide opportunities for former NIH employees. “I think it’s sad that it needs to be in these circumstances. But we need individuals of caliber and integrity,” he said.

Danielle Gabrish of AstraZeneca highlighted the ongoing demand for skilled individuals, assuring attendees of potential positions available within the evolving biosciences sector. “We have plenty of opportunities out there for people,” she noted.

Many attendees, some on administrative leave, expressed their concerns over job security. “I was very nervous in the last two months about what my fate would be,” commented a federal employee with more than 30 years of service. Despite the uncertainty, they felt hopeful about the job fair’s potential.

Mark Nardone, director of Bio-Trac, organized the job fair in response to the upheaval at federal agencies. “It’s a reflection of the chaos that’s happening over at the government agencies. Companies are looking at this intellectual talent and skill set that’s suddenly become available,” he stated.

One neuroscientist admitted feeling appreciated while shopping for new opportunities at the fair. “It does give us some hope that there are positions for us out there,” they said, though acknowledging the challenge of competing with other qualified candidates.

“Everybody has very qualified experiences, and we’re all probably looking at very similar jobs, too, in the same area,” they added. “I just hope that we continue to keep having these job fairs. I think it’s important.”