Thousands of Food and Drug Administration employees are expected to return to the office in person starting Monday, but some are concerned about the possible traffic implications when they come back to the Maryland campus.
that report to the White Oak campus but only 6,000 on-campus parking spots, said a federal worker who sent an email to WTOP. The worker, who did not include identification, said that was one of the factors that pushed the agency toward telework before the pandemic.
Workers have been told that an off-site overflow lot would be necessary, but information on that hasn鈥檛 yet been provided, the email said.
鈥淕iven the campus location, this will likely cause traffic conditions never seen before in this area, affecting not only employees, but also residents and businesses,鈥� the concerned federal employee said.
A second email from a different person, who also did not include identification, said to expect 鈥渢otal chaos and stress鈥� at the FDA campus next week.
In a statement, an FDA spokesman said the agency is making sure staff are able to do their work.
“The agency continues to provide its employees with up-to-date information regarding these activities, including workspace, security, parking accommodations, as well as public transportation and alternative commuting options,” the spokesman said.
But a Montgomery County community member said at the FDA, 鈥渟everal of my neighbors said that their desks are gone, and that parking was bad before, and they haven鈥檛 done anything to rectify the parking. So it鈥檚 going to be bad now.”
In the weeks since President Donald Trump returned to office, he has instructed many federal agencies to end remote work policies and urged employees to return to the office in person.
About a month ago, 17,000 workers returned in person to offices in D.C.鈥檚 Navy Yard neighborhood. Officials encouraged those workers to use public transportation because of limited parking, and backups eventually eased on the first day the workers were instructed to be in the office.
Local traffic impact
A Montgomery County police spokeswoman said the department doesn’t have traffic concerns, despite the extra volume because there are major thoroughfares, such as New Hampshire Avenue, near the FDA鈥檚 campus.
Yvany Peery is expecting traffic issues because 鈥渨e have a lot of traffic problems in Montgomery County, like a lot.”
“I feel a little bit more for the workers than I do just being a community member around here. It鈥檚 a great disruption to a lot of people鈥檚 lives,鈥� she said.
Businesses, however, are eager for some normalcy.
Angie, co-owner of Nice N鈥� Spicy Jamaican Cuisine, said she鈥檚 expecting more orders and consistent business.
鈥淚t would be very good for us as business personnel. I do appreciate the fact that they鈥檙e coming back,鈥� she said.
Ideki Koga, owner of Pizza Castle in the same plaza, said there鈥檚 a difference when people work from home because 鈥渨e don鈥檛 have any people coming often.鈥�
鈥淲e always welcome to anyone to bring it back up, the business,鈥� he said.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
漏 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
