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Institute for Defense Analyses

Engaged employer

Fantastic place for research staff - Research Staff Member Institute for Defense Analyses Employee Review

5.0
16 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Very supportive environment Challenging and interesting work IDA invests significantly in your professional development Relatively flat structure -- success is not defined by moving up a ladder. Some researchers have been at IDA for decades, have been very successful and are highly valued, and continue to predominantly do research work by their own choice, and this is not viewed as failure or stagnation. Others take on formal management roles fairly early on. Others slide into project leadership for a while, slide back out, and so on over time. Aside from travel (which varies considerably based on your division, project, etc.), IDA researchers are rarely asked or even pressured to work outside of standard work hours. IDA provides fantastic work-life balance. IDA is very flexible, allowing hybrid in-office/remote working and somewhat flexible hours outside of some core business hours.

Cons

IDA has been impacted by DOGE cuts, with some layoffs, reductions in administrative support, and loss of amenities. It does seem, though, that IDA has managed to weather the storm and reestablished its primary funding streams.

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Institute for Defense Analyses Response
3mo
Thank you for sharing your experience at IDA. We’re encouraged to hear that some of the things we take most pride in have been recognized here, including our dedication to research and analysis, culture of work-life balance, and professional development support. Please know that both your pros and cons have been shared with senior leadership as all feedback is a valuable part of how we continually improve. Our sponsors’ demand for our work does remain strong as we continue to fulfill our national security mission.

Explore other reviews about Institute for Defense Analyses

5.0
26 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

High-quality mentorship Professional development Exposure to real-world problems

Cons

Restricted or classified work (not so much of a con)

2.0
24 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great retirement Good PTO & federal holidays

Cons

Finance “leadership” demonstrates a blatant disregard for its staff. Employee concerns are routinely dismissed, driving unnecessary turnover and leaving the organization in a position that feels increasingly unsustainable. Individuals are consistently pushed beyond reasonable limits, expected to carry the workload of two or three people without support. Performance issues go unaddressed, further compounding the strain on those who are already overextended. At the same time, leadership makes decisions in isolation—despite being new and lacking a meaningful understanding of day-to-day operations—while ignoring the input of those actually doing the work. There is a clear unwillingness to offer even basic accommodations, such as work-from-home flexibility, despite the level of effort and commitment employees continue to demonstrate.

2
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Institute for Defense Analyses Response
2mo
Thank you for the feedback and we acknowledge your concerns over turnover morale and churn within our Finance team. Your comments will be shared with the appropriate leadership for review. IDA has implemented several methods to express concerns and share your feedback. If those concerns need to be expressed outside of a staff member’s immediate supervisor or outside of your division/directorate, Human Resources Business Partners are always available to listen and support with actionable ideas or to funnel information to more senior leadership if necessary. Additionally, the Office of General Counsel is a resource, and if appropriate, Code of Conduct violations can be reported anonymously via IDA’s intranet. IDA considers teleworking to be a viable, flexible work option when both the employee and the employee’s position are suited to such an arrangement, and when that arrangement is consistent with IDA’s business/sponsor needs. Employees seeking telework arrangements as a workplace accommodation for medical reasons can submit an Accommodation/Adjustment Request Form to HR.
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