What to Do If You Receive a RIF Notice at Interior

Thousands of federal employees at the Department of the Interior—including the National Park Service, USGS, and BLM—are facing sudden uncertainty as the agency prepares to issue Reduction in Force (RIF) notices. If you’re among those affected, this isn’t the time to panic. It’s the time to prepare, both legally and mentally.

The Clock Starts the Day You Get the Notice

Once you receive a RIF notice, you are entitled to remain on the payroll for a minimum of 60 days—unless OPM grants an unusual waiver reducing that to 30. This period is not just a countdown; it’s a window for strategic action. During this time, you may have bump and retreat rights, access to priority placement programs, and appeal opportunities through Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) channels. But you can only use these tools if your paperwork is accurate and complete.

Start by pulling your latest SF-50 and verifying your personnel file. Update your resume, confirm your qualifications, and double-check your position classification. These details can affect what options remain available to you.

Understand the Bigger Picture

Interior is not simply downsizing headquarters. Meeting notes indicate entire scientific and cultural programs could be dismantled. Even those not initially cut may face heavier workloads and public scrutiny—especially if parks remain open but undermanned. Employees receiving the “Preparing for Organizational Changes” webinar invite should consider themselves within the likely impact zone.

Multiple RIF waves are possible, with speculation pointing toward May, June, and beyond—unless enough employees accept controversial early departure programs.

Mindfulness for Crisis Response

While we can’t control who gets a RIF notice, we can manage how we respond. Mindfulness tools, used alongside legal knowledge, help anchor you amid uncertainty.

• Regulate your nervous system. Try the 4-4-6 breath: inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 6. Repeat five times. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system and helps you stay in your thinking brain—not your panic brain.

• Name what's still real. Say aloud: “I have 60 days of pay. I have options. I have rights.” Labeling facts disrupts catastrophic spiraling.

• Create a micro-plan. Tonight, write down one or two actions: pulling your SF-50, calling EAP, or just taking a walk. Small steps restore agency in moments of overwhelm.

You Are Not Alone

Many have walked this trail before you. The key is not to go it alone. At Southworth PC, we decode these rules daily for federal employees who refuse to be blindsided. If you or someone you know may be impacted by the Interior RIF, our daily newsletter  offers legal updates, mindset tips, and practical sanity checks.

Legal Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. While I am a federal employment attorney, this post does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every situation is unique, and legal outcomes depend on specific facts and circumstances.