Returning to Washington: From the Clinton Era to the Age of Trump
This week, I will return to Washington, D.C. for the first time since my retirement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2002. Nearly a quarter century has passed since I last walked the halls of federal buildings in Maryland and downtown Washington. During those years, America has changed dramatically- politically, culturally, and emotionally.
When I arrived in the Washington area in 1990 as a newly hired FDA Review Chemist, the political atmosphere was very different from today. America was emerging from the Cold War with a sense of optimism. Under Presidents George H. W. Bush and later Bill Clinton, Washington politics still carried a degree of bipartisan cooperation that now seems almost unimaginable. Even when politicians fought fiercely, there remained an understanding that governing required compromise.
The 1990s were not politically peaceful. There were battles over healthcare reform, welfare reform, NAFTA, government shutdowns, and eventually the impeachment of President Clinton. Yet the overall tone of public life felt less toxic than today. Republicans and Democrats still socialized together. Congressional families knew one another personally. Cable television existed, but social media had not yet transformed politics into a nonstop national shouting match.
Washington in the late 1990s also reflected confidence in America’s future. The economy was booming. Federal employees like myself believed in public service and scientific expertise. The internet age was just beginning. The Soviet Union had collapsed, and many Americans believed liberal democracy had permanently triumphed. Even political scandals unfolded in a slower and less emotionally explosive media environment.
Today, returning to Washington under the second administration of Donald Trump, I expect to encounter a very different city.
Modern Washington feels more polarized, more ideological, and more distrustful of institutions. Political identity has become deeply personal. Families and friendships are now often divided by politics. Government agencies that once operated quietly in the background have become targets of partisan battles. Career civil servants, scientists, journalists, universities, and even the judiciary are increasingly pulled into political warfare.
The Trump era has also transformed the style of American politics. Presidential communication now occurs instantly through social media, rallies, podcasts, and partisan news outlets. Political language has become sharper and more confrontational. Symbolism and spectacle often dominate governance itself. Critics argue that this environment has weakened public trust in democratic institutions and intensified national division.
At the same time, many Americans support Trump because they believe he challenges entrenched political elites, fights cultural liberalism, and speaks directly to frustrations ignored by traditional politicians. His supporters view him as disruptive but necessary. His critics view him as dangerous to democratic norms. Few modern presidents have generated such intense loyalty and opposition simultaneously.
In many ways, Washington today reflects the broader transformation of America itself. The nation of the 1990s was still influenced by post-World War II optimism and institutional trust. The America of the 2020s is shaped by social media, economic anxiety, cultural conflict, immigration debates, distrust of government, and the lingering effects of the COVID era.
As I prepare to revisit Washington after almost 24 years, I know I will not simply be revisiting a city. I will be revisiting an earlier version of America and an earlier version of myself.
I remember the Washington of my FDA years as a place where public service still carried quiet dignity. Scientists, regulators, and civil servants worked mostly outside the political spotlight. We believed our work mattered, even if few people noticed it. Today, federal agencies often stand at the center of political controversy.
Yet despite all the changes, Washington remains the symbolic heart of American democracy. Administrations come and go. Political movements rise and fall. But the enduring strength of America has always been its ability to argue passionately, adapt painfully, and continue moving forward.
As an immigrant scientist from the Philippines who spent twelve productive years serving the American public through the FDA, I return not with cynicism, but with reflection and gratitude. History changes nations, but it also changes the people who lived through it.
Lastly, here's the AI Summary and Reflection of My Article on my FDA Years:
Your blog post, Our Maryland and FDA Years (1990–2002), captures several important themes that make your life story compelling:
- the immigrant pursuit of professional success in America
- the stability and meaning you found in public service after leaving private industry
- the evolution of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration during a transformative era
- the emotional reality of raising a family while balancing scientific responsibility
- the sense of duty after the September 11 attacks
What stands out most is the contrast between your early uncertainty after losing your job at Chevron Corporation and the long-term fulfillment you eventually found at the FDA. That transition gives the narrative emotional weight because it reflects resilience rather than simple career advancement.
Your recollections also provide an insider’s historical perspective on the FDA during the 1990s and early 2000s, a period shaped by debates over drug approval speed, public safety, AIDS therapies, and post-9/11 emergency preparedness. Readers who were not familiar with that era can better appreciate the pressures faced by government scientists and reviewers.
The personal details strengthen the story:
- adjusting to life in Maryland
- raising children while working demanding federal jobs
- your wife’s role in supporting the family
- your pride in becoming a Chemistry Team Leader
- your continued reflection on public service decades after retirement
The tone is reflective without becoming bitter, which gives the piece dignity and credibility. It reads not merely as a résumé of accomplishments, but as a memoir of sacrifice, adaptation, and gratitude.
Overall, the post works very well as both:
- A historical memoir of a Filipino-American scientist in federal service, and
- A family legacy document for your children and future generations.
