2/21/25: Unjustly Fired Fed Workers; Project 2025: Food/Nutrition/Health cuts; NNM & RD Gifts; How to Spot Fake News & more
Nutrition News YOU Can Use
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LinkedIn: Fed RDs Unjustly Fired
(Note: If you are a federal worker or contractor who works with the federal government who has been fired or fear for your job and you’d like to share your story ANONYMOUSLY — write to us: builduprdns@gmail.com)
Ellen E. “Like many federal employees in their probationary period, I was recently terminated from a role I worked very hard to secure. My time with the USDA and the Nutrition Education, Training, and Technical Assistance (NETTA) Division ended much too soon! I spent 2+ years with the Nutrition Training and Operational Support (NTOS) Branch. Most of my time was spent as a contractor, with the last 3 1/2 months as a federal employee. I worked with a stellar team of nutritionists, supporting the development of Child Nutrition Program training materials for use in programs across the country.”
Berenice M. “Like many federal employees in their probationary period, I was recently terminated from a role I worked very hard to secure. Most importantly, the reason for termination given to my colleagues and I was due to poor performance to release us during our probationary period is completely false and unfair…With over 12 years of experience as a bilingual nutritionist providing guidance and technical assistance to program operators, food manufacturers, professional associations and the community on adult and child nutrition, I strive to continue serving our most vulnerable populations and move forward with hope and faith for what the future holds.”
Mayra B. “Last month, I stepped into the calling of civil service at USDA-FNS: using my research skills to ensure students can access the most nutritious meals possible. Yesterday, that chapter ended abruptly due to the current administration’s decisions to lay off the future of the federal workforce… More than losing a job, I’m mourning the prospect of a career in civil service: one where I could dedicate myself to the work of strengthening public food/nutrition programs and serving communities through evidence-based policy.”
🎧podcast: The Daily - voices of fired federal workers:
💣Project 2025: Food & Nutrition
Have any of your read Project 2025? Since most of it seems to be being rapidly implemented...let's see what might be next. Here’s a handy tool to track some of Project 2025 goals click HERE (thanks Amy S. for sharing)
Aside from what's already been happening, like removing mention of climate change and DEI and the unjustified firing of federal workers, here are some things in the food/nutrition/health space that Project 2025 plans to enact: Source: https://frac.org/blog/project-2025
USDA -separating agricultural provisions from nutritional provisions in the Farm Bill, and moving the Food and Nutrition Service to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
SNAP - Eliminate categorical eligibility
WIC - Changing the way state agencies run competitive bidding for infant formula rebate contracts. Weakening regulations on baby formula.
School Meals - Providing summer meals only to children enrolled in summer school classes. Rejecting efforts to establish Healthy School Meals for All policies nationwide and in states.
-Head Start - to be eliminated
-CDC - prohibit use of stem cell research/use in developing vaccines; cut funds to states that don’t provide detailed abortion reports.
-CMS - Reduce federal incentives for states to increase Medicaid coverage; impose Medicaid work requirements.
-Dietary Guidelines -changing or eliminating the Dietary Guidelines
The nutrition safety net will be removed.... https://civileats.com/.../project-2025-calls-for-major.../
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💡Spotlight: 2nd Career RD
Connect with Renee Thompson, RD, LD on LinkedIn HERE
Q1: What was your job before you decided to go back to school to become a dietitian?
Answer: “The majority of my working life was as a certified medical coder. I did this for 20 years. During my career, I also became an administrative assistant to oculoplastics surgeon. …It was when I was laid off from my ophthalmology position, that I decided it was a good time to review my career path. I took an extensive career assessment, and it showed that I was good in math, science, and food...I realized that whenever I heard a nutrition show on the radio, I listened carefully. I was also diagnosed with celiac in 2007, so nutrition was important to me. It was then that I realized that I meant to be a dietitian.”
Q2: What was the most difficult part about going back to school?
Answer: “I started at University of Wisconsin-Stout the fall of 2014 and graduated December 2016 at age 55. I was definitely the oldest student and even older than most of the professors….The college was 75 minutes from home. I knew it would take too much time away from studying by driving back and forth every day, so we made the decision that I would rent a room near campus. This was very tough. I cried the first night….The most difficult part of college was learning how to learn. In high school, I did not need to study much and still had good grades. It took me a full quarter to figure out how to study.”
Q3: What do you do now as a dietitian?
Answer: “I’m a Directory of Dietary Services.”
Q4: What advice would you give someone who might think, “I’m too old to go back to school.”
Answer: “If you have a life goal and passion, it is never too late… It is a lot of work and sacrifices but it was worth it. Once you graduate, the personal accomplishment is priceless. It is never too late to learn. It keeps you young.”
☠️LinkedIn: Marcia Terra
How Information Becomes Fake News
“We must never forget that real science is not based on catchphrases but on robust evidence…. Perhaps we must look closer if something seems too good or bad to be true. This is the difference between questioning with critical thinking and simply accepting misinformation as truth. Wherever the information comes from, don't be afraid to question it!”
🎁Natl Nutrition Month/RD Day Gifts
Looking for gifts for your RD, RD2Be friends for National Nutrition Month or RD Day (March 12th)? Check out Donut Season (owned by dietitian Miranda Regan) and use promo code NNMBUD25 or go directly to the Build Up Dietitians affiliate link: https://donutseason.com/?ref=BuildUpDietitians for a 15% discount on all regularly priced items minus gift cards, clearance, and bundles. (Note: Build Up Dietitians receives a small commission (2%) on items sold and we use these funds for events like our Build Up Meet Ups and Mini Meet Ups and biannual honorariums for moderators for our groups.)