The Federal Employee Survival Blog

Cut through the jargon and get the clarity you need to stay a step ahead of agency politics. Each article unpacks new policy shifts, court rulings, and workplace trends, then turns them into actionable tactics—so you can head off discipline, invoke EEO or whistleblower protections with confidence, and keep your documentation airtight. We also archive our most popular social-media explainer threads here, giving you the same insights followed by more than 150,000 people online even if you never scroll on those sites. Read, prepare, and keep your federal career firmly in your control.

 
Telework Denied for “Teamwork”? Know the Law essential functions federal employment reasonable accommodation rehabilitation act telework accommodation Feb 27, 2026

If a telework accommodation was denied with phrases like “teamwork,” “collaboration,” or “we need you here face-to-face,” pause before accepting that answer as final. Those words may sound official. T...

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Are EEOC and MSPB Still Fair for Feds? eeoc hearings federal discipline federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals Feb 27, 2026

Lately, many federal employees have been asking the same question: Is the system already decided? With nonstop headlines about politics and the courts, it can feel like filing an EEOC complaint or MSP...

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Telework and “Undue Hardship” Under the Rehab Act eeo process federal employment rehabilitation act telework accommodation undue hardship Feb 26, 2026

When a supervisor says, “Telework is an undue hardship,” it can sound final. It is not. Under the Rehabilitation Act—applying ADA standards—the agency must provide a reasonable accommodation to a qual...

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Judge Bars DOJ From Searching Reporter Devices doj filter team federal employment first amendment rights privacy protection act whistleblower risks Feb 26, 2026

A federal judge in Virginia just took the unusual step of blocking the Department of Justice from reviewing a reporter’s seized electronic devices—and ordered that the court, not DOJ, will conduct the...

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OPM Performance Appraisal Rule: Key Risks for Feds collective bargaining federal employment mspb performance appraisals whistleblower protection Feb 26, 2026

On February 24, 2026, OPM published a proposed rule that could significantly reshape how federal employees are rated, rewarded, and disciplined. Comments are due by March 26, 2026. While this is not f...

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Managing Federal Workplace Anxiety Before Discipline federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals telework disputes workplace anxiety Feb 24, 2026

For many GS-9 and above federal employees, the body reacts to a calendar invite or HR/LR email before the mind has processed a single word. Chest tightens. Jaw clenches. Thoughts jump to worst-case sc...

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How to Request a Telework Accommodation (No Magic Words Required) federal employment interactive process reasonable accommodation rehabilitation act telework accommodation Feb 24, 2026

One of the most damaging myths in federal workplaces right now is this: that you must use specific legal language to request a telework accommodation. You do not.

You do not have to cite the Rehabili...

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DOGE’s $110B Savings Claim Under Scrutiny budget cuts federal employment government contracts mindfulness at work workplace discipline Feb 23, 2026

A year after DOGE’s cost-cutting push, many federal employees are asking a simple question: were the numbers real, or was the government handed a scoreboard that obscured mission damage? That question...

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DHS Partial Shutdown: What Feds Should Do Now anti-deficiency act dhs shutdown federal employment federal pay government shutdown Feb 23, 2026

As of February 23, 2026, most of the federal government is funded through the end of the fiscal year. The Department of Homeland Security is not. Congress passed full-year appropriations for other age...

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Supreme Court Tariffs Case and Federal Power Limits federal employment mspb separation of powers supreme court unitary executive Feb 23, 2026

Federal employees have been watching the Supreme Court closely this term. The recent tariffs decision is more than a trade-policy headline. It is a separation-of-powers case that could shape how the C...

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AWOL Threats and Telework Accommodation Rights awol eeo complaints federal employment rehabilitation act telework accommodation Feb 23, 2026

If you’re being told, “Report in-person or you’ll be marked AWOL,” pause—but do not panic.

AWOL (Absent Without Leave) is often the pivot point where a disability accommodation dispute quietly turns ...

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DoD Graduate School Limits and Military Readiness dod civilians federal employment military education tuition assistance workforce policy Feb 20, 2026

Reporting indicates that beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year, the Department of Defense may restrict certain professional military education, fellowships, and certificate programs at Harvard, wit...

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