Two issues:

1. Compensation

To be honest,

as a national-level defense weapons research and development organization,

shouldn't it offer better compensation than the private sector if it wants to retain talent?

The current economic climate is indeed not very good,

but the base salary that was initially promised at 59K was abruptly changed to a base salary of 48K.

How are young people like us, who work so hard, supposed to feel about that?

Honestly, if it really is 48K, just about any decent technology company out there should offer better compensation.

2. Integrity

Besides the compensation itself, the most important issue is the principle of "integrity."

Instead, this is actually being applied retroactively.

Our cohort only found out after joining that the terms would be changed. Can the company really treat its employees this way?

Today, it can target the R&D substitute service program;

who knows whether it will target other job grades tomorrow??

If it wants to change something, what can't it change?

A company with no integrity at all is truly disheartening.

Summary:

Compensation is an issue, but integrity is an even bigger issue.