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Shaun Southworth leading a federal employment training session with members of the Southworth PC team
 

Urgent Federal Benefit Cuts Threat: Be Proactive

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A major shift is underway—and if you are a federal employee, you need to be fully informed and ready to act. On April 30th at 10:00 AM Eastern, the House Oversight Committee will b...

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Federal Unions Score Major Victory: Stay Mindful and Engaged

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Late last night, federal employees across the country received hopeful news: a federal judge froze an order that threatened to dismantle key union protections across multiple agenc...

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Probation Just Became Sudden Death: How Mindful Federal Employees Can Protect Their Careers

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Recent changes out of Washington have dramatically shifted the probationary landscape for federal employees. If your probationary period ends after July 23, 2025, the burden is now...

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State Dept Cuts 15% Staff: Mindful Strategies to Stay Protected

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If you’ve felt your heart drop reading the headlines, you're not alone. The State Department is undergoing a major upheaval—132 offices shuttered, over 2,000 employees facing termi...

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Does the VA’s New Hotline Favor One Faith?

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Recent news from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has left many federal employees—myself included—troubled. An internal email reportedly announced a new hotline for reportin...

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Protect Your Federal Job from Schedule F Reclassifications

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Recent developments at the Social Security Administration (SSA) should give every federal employee pause. Acting SSA Commissioner Leland Ick has reportedly ordered the reclassifica...

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Judge Halts CFPB Mass Layoffs: What Feds Should Know

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In a stunning turn of events, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) attempted to lay off nearly 90% of its workforce overnight—but a federal judge stepped in just in time...

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When the Watchdog Walks Away: What Now for Probationary Feds?

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If you're a probationary federal employee who filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and recently received a case closure notice, you're not alone—and your conc...

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Were You a Probationary Federal Employee Let Go in February? Here’s What You Need to Know.

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If you were one of the many probationary federal employees dismissed this past February, your situation may feel uncertain, disorienting—even unfair. Recent courtroom developments,...

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When Your Union Vanishes Overnight: A Wake-Up Call for Federal Employees

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Imagine this: You badge into your VA job, ready for the day—and suddenly, your union protections are gone. No notice, no negotiation, just... vanished. That’s what happened when th...

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When “Five Wins” Becomes a Trap: How to Protect Your Federal Career

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If you’re a federal employee facing pressure to report weekly accomplishments—or “five wins”—you’re not alone. In recent weeks, agencies from the EPA to NIH have been quietly scali...

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Schedule F Is Back—Here’s How to Stay Grounded and Protected

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Imagine waking up on a Monday to find your career protections quietly stripped away. That’s the unsettling reality many federal employees now face. Late on a recent Friday, the Off...

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The Mindful Federal Employee is part of a broader public-education ecosystem from Shaun Southworth, Lydia Taylor, and Southworth PC. Use the resource that fits the question and the moment.

Podcast

Civil Rights for Civil Servants

Hear Shaun Southworth and Lydia Taylor explain federal employee rights, public service, workplace systems, and the people navigating them.

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Mindfulness

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About the people behind the work

Shaun Southworth & Lydia Taylor

Meet the federal employment attorneys behind this public-education work and the podcast Civil Rights for Civil Servants.

Meet Shaun & Lydia

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