Did you notice in the Pro's category I only referenced the benefits? That's because everything else about working here was truly awful. I accepted the job hoping to make a difference. That hope, as it turns out, was naive. What I found instead was a cesspool of stereotypical career Bureaucrats all fighting for the next promotion. They encourage you lie, stretch outcomes, make up stories, etc. so that each report you submit is favorable. If you question the tactics of your leadership, you'll be politely reminded that you don't matter. There's only one way to to advance and I had no interest in playing that game. The amount of waste and deception I witnessed was disgusting. At one point, I had to report my direct supervisor to GAO for fraud. An investigation was launched and 2 months later, she was found guilty of my accusations. Her punishment? The equivalent of a slap on the wrist. She's still in a leadership position to this day, despite the fact that during the investigation multiple similar instances of fraud and deception were uncovered. Yup... it's that kind of place.
I went in motivated and excited to make a difference. Seven years later, I left defeated, jaded, and saddened that this monstrosity is the organization responsible for such an important mission.
To be fair, there are some departments that do good work, Superfund and RCRA among them, but if you're thinking of accepting a position in any other department, run away. And even in the few departments/programs that are run well, you'll still be exposed to the rank, vile underbelly of the organization.
