IRS & Treasury Are Forcing Disabled Employees to Choose Between Their Health and Their Jobs: “Waiting For An RA? Use Your Leave Or AWOL”

Hey FedNews, I’m at my wit’s end and need advice. This week has been a rollercoaster—even worse than the past month.

The IRS and Treasury are straight-up screwing over disabled employees, and I don’t know what to do.

Here’s the deal: I have a reasonable accommodation (RA) request pending approval. I was previously approved for this accommodation but never formalized it since I was remote and didn’t need to…until I saw the writing on the wall about a month ago. I got my request in early and received interim approval, but now, thanks to all the administrative shake-ups, they’ve suddenly decided that my interim approval is only valid for 10 days. TEN. DAYS.

After that? They’re forcing me back into the office full-time. Which is this Monday: with only three days’ notice. The exact thing my RA states I physically can’t do.

And here’s what really doesn’t make sense—how can they legally force people to go into the office while their RA is still pending, when the whole point of the RA is that they physically can’t go into the office?! It’s like they’re setting disabled employees up to fail on purpose.

My supervisor basically told me: use your leave, accept leave without pay, or figure something else out. Those are my only options.

Here’s where it gets even worse: • The IRS now says all RA requests must go through Treasury. • Treasury reportedly has at least 700 requests (minimum: first stage) sitting there. • They are only processing 25 per week—which means some people could be waiting months. • Meanwhile, I have no choice but to burn through my sick leave, use annual leave, or quit. • My supervisor and first-level executive have confirmed and shared this information—this isn’t just a rumor, it’s happening.

How is this even legal? They are forcing disabled employees out of their jobs by slow-walking accommodations they already approved and making us choose between our health and our livelihoods.

Because of my situation, I physically cannot go in. So they are effectively kicking me out in three days. I am now in panic mode trying to get all of my work transferred so I don’t let down my colleagues.

I need to know what my options are. Are there complaints I can file? Legal steps I can take? And more importantly—is anyone working on a class action lawsuit over this? If not, how do we start one? Because this has to be violating the ADA or some other law.

If anyone knows of a way to fight back, or even just what to do in the meantime, please let me know.

This is beyond cruel. It’s systemic discrimination. And if they’re doing it to me, they’re doing it to others.

What the hell do I (and we) do?!