Several former employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) who were terminated, rehired, and then terminated again earlier this year have reported receiving debt notices from the federal government demanding repayment for health care coverage they never had. The employees described the situation as part of a confusing and poorly communicated termination process that has left them grappling with fundamental workplace uncertainties.
According to three former NOAA employees who shared their experiences with NBC News, they received letters titled “DEMAND NOTICE FOR PAYMENT” dated June 16, stating that they owed varying amounts of money for health care premiums, with the possibility of interest charges. The letters also threatened to report the debts to credit bureaus if left unpaid.
Sarah Cooley, a former director of NOAA’s ocean acidification program, expressed concern over the intimidating language used in the notices. Meanwhile, Ya’el Seid-Green, a former special assistant in NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, highlighted the absurdity of being billed for health insurance during a period when their coverage had already lapsed due to their termination.
The exact number of laid-off workers who received these debt notices remains unclear, as some former employees reported not receiving any such correspondence. The situation prompted confusion and frustration among the affected individuals, who criticized the lack of transparency and accountability in the process.
Upon inquiry, a NOAA spokeswoman declined to comment on individual personnel matters and directed questions to the Office of Personnel Management. The Commerce Department, which oversees NOAA, did not provide a response to queries.
In response to media inquiries, probationary NOAA employees received an email acknowledging a potential error in the debt notices and stating that efforts were underway to address the issue in collaboration with the National Finance Center. The agency assured affected employees that no immediate action was necessary.
The termination and subsequent rehiring of over 600 probationary NOAA employees, including hurricane hunters, meteorologists, and storm modelers, earlier this year has raised concerns about procedural errors and lack of clarity in communication. Former employees have reported difficulties obtaining separation paperwork and accessing health benefits during the reinstatement period. The rushed handling of these personnel changes has left many feeling frustrated and uncertain about their employment status and benefits entitlements.
When she was placed on administrative leave, she received paychecks with health insurance deductions. However, following surgery, she discovered that her health coverage was not active. Despite signing up for a program to retroactively pay for health benefits, it did not resolve the issue. As a result, she has paid twice for health coverage that she has not received, leading to demands for over $14,000 in payment for her surgery. This situation has caused financial and emotional strain on the affected employees, with errors indicating leadership issues within the Department of Commerce, according to Tim Whitehouse, executive director of the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). He emphasized that these problems have not arisen in other agencies and singled out the Department of Commerce as having the most significant issues that need to be addressed.
