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.

 
Federal RIF Injunction: What GS‑9+ Employees Should Know drp buyouts federal employment mindfulness at work rif litigation telework rights May 23, 2025

On May 22, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston converted a temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction that blocks 21 federal agencies from issuing or finalizing Reduction in Force (RIF) n...

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A Federal RIF Freeze: What the Latest Court Ruling Means constitutional law federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals reduction in force May 22, 2025

Federal employees, especially those recently impacted by Reduction in Force (RIF) notices, received a powerful message this week: the law still protects your job. In a pivotal hearing, Judge Susan Ill...

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How to Appeal a Federal RIF to the MSPB federal employee rights federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals rif May 22, 2025

If you’ve received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice, you’re likely navigating shock, anxiety, and an avalanche of questions. As a federal employee, the stakes are high—your pension, health benefits, ...

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Watchdog Firings and the Real Cost of “Savings” at Your Agency federal employment ig firings mindfulness at work rif notices watchdog oversight May 22, 2025

When federal employees hear about massive government savings—like the $170 billion touted by DOGE —it sounds promising. But if you’re a career fed, especially GS-9 and above, here’s the uncomfortable ...

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Two Federal Rulings Halt Trump's Anti-Union Order—For Now collective bargaining executive orders federal employment mindfulness at work union rights May 22, 2025

In a major turn for federal employees, two court rulings have temporarily stalled the Trump administration’s efforts to strip away collective bargaining rights from large portions of the federal workf...

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When “Doing More with Less” Becomes a Dangerous Illusion agency cuts epa layoffs federal employment irs delays mindfulness at work May 21, 2025

Federal employees have long faced the myth that service improves when agencies are “streamlined.” But recent testimony from agency leaders to Congress suggests a deeper problem: a narrative that cutti...

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When FEMA Is Gutted, Everyone Feels the Storm disaster readiness emergency response policy federal employment fema cuts mindfulness at work May 21, 2025

Imagine a Category 4 hurricane charging toward the coast—but this time, FEMA isn’t fully staffed, trained, or funded. That’s no longer hypothetical. In the wake of the Trump administration’s $646 mill...

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How to Stay Grounded After a Federal Layoff or Suspension federal employee rights federal employment layoffs mindfulness at work mspb appeals May 20, 2025

When layoffs or removals hit the federal workforce, the damage runs deeper than numbers. These are lives interrupted—mothers, veterans, researchers—cut adrift often with little warning and even less s...

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Was Your RIF Illegal? Red Flags Federal Employees Should Look Out For federal employee rights federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals rif appeals May 19, 2025

In recent months, we've seen a troubling pattern: federal agencies issuing Reduction in Force (RIF) notices that raise serious legal questions. According to some legal scholars and judges, many of the...

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The RIF Freeze May End—What That Means for You federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals rif appeals supreme court stay May 19, 2025

Federal employees are in a moment of deep uncertainty. A federal judge recently paused sweeping Reduction in Force (RIF) actions across 21 agencies, citing likely violations of civil service law. Now,...

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Agencies May Sideline Unions After Court Revives Executive Orders executive orders federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals union rights May 19, 2025

A recent federal appeals court decision has shaken the foundation of collective bargaining rights for millions of federal employees. On Friday, a split panel of the D.C. Circuit lifted the injunction ...

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Presidential Impoundment Power Could Upend Federal Agency Budgets budget cuts executive power federal employment impoundment control act mindfulness at work May 16, 2025

Federal employees may be facing a new wave of budget instability—and this time, it's not coming from Congress. The White House is reportedly considering a legal end-run around the Impoundment Control ...

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