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.

 
FEMA Whistleblowers and the Red Flags of Retaliation federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals osc whistleblower retaliation Dec 04, 2025

When fourteen FEMA whistleblowers were reinstated in the morning and removed again by the afternoon—right after national reporting embarrassed DHS—many federal employees saw something familiar. Not ju...

Continue Reading...
 
Alleged DEI “Purges” and What Fell v. Trump Means for Federal Employees civil service protections dei federal employment mspb appeals rif rights Dec 04, 2025

A new class action, Fell v. Trump, alleges something no federal employee should take lightly: that the administration directed agencies to identify, isolate, and remove anyone linked to diversity, equ...

Continue Reading...
 
Presidential Power vs. Civil Rights: What Nemer v. Bondi Means for Federal Employees article ii civil service protections eeo law federal employment mspb appeals Dec 04, 2025

A new lawsuit—Nemer v. Bondi—is raising a question most federal employees never thought they’d have to ask: Can a President legally fire you even if the motive is discriminatory? The Justice Departmen...

Continue Reading...
 
Two-Year Probation? What the EQUALS Act Could Mean for Federal Employees federal employment mspb appeals probationary periods whistleblower rights workforce legislation Dec 03, 2025

Congress just moved a significant step closer to reshaping how long new federal employees must work before gaining full MSPB appeal rights. The EQUALS Act, which passed the House Oversight Committee a...

Continue Reading...
 
Why “Minor” Discipline Isn’t Minor for Federal Employees federal employment federal suspension mindfulness at work mspb appeals progressive discipline Dec 02, 2025

For many federal employees returning from Thanksgiving with a knot in the stomach about what their agency might do next, that feeling is not misplaced. Small shifts in the disciplinary process can hav...

Continue Reading...
 
Unlawful Orders in Federal Service: What You Need to Know ethics in government federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals unlawful orders Dec 01, 2025

When a headline suggests the Pentagon may have crossed the line into a war crime, the instinctive reaction many federal employees feel isn’t just shock — it’s recognition. Because beneath the military...

Continue Reading...
 
Kalkines Warnings After Shows v. Treasury: What Feds Must Know ethics in government federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals unlawful orders Dec 01, 2025

When a headline suggests the Pentagon may have crossed the line into a war crime, the instinctive reaction many federal employees feel isn’t just shock — it’s recognition. Because beneath the military...

Continue Reading...
 
Gratitude as a Legal and Mental Clarity Tool for Federal Employees eeo guidance federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals workplace stress Nov 25, 2025

Federal employees have spent the year navigating unprecedented disruption: DOGE rollouts, chaotic reorganizations, and constant uncertainty about missions, staffing, and the future of civil service pr...

Continue Reading...
 
Here's What I Would Tell DOGE If It Had an Exit Interview civil service protections doge federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals Nov 25, 2025

Federal employees have spent the last year living inside a case study of what happens when political ambition outruns legal authority. The Department of Government Efficiency—DOGE—arrived with a chain...

Continue Reading...
 
OPM’s New RIF Proposal: How Performance Ratings Could Cost You Your Job federal employment mspb appeals opm regulations performance ratings rif Nov 24, 2025

Federal employees have long relied on a RIF system grounded in objective factors—tenure, veterans’ preference, and credible measures of service time. The new OPM proposal rewrites that foundation. Und...

Continue Reading...
 
Southworth PC is Hiring for Associate Attorneys attorneys for federal employees eeoc representation federal employment law firm hiring mspb appeals Nov 20, 2025

For many federal employees, the last year has felt like one long emergency: shutdown-era RIFs, whistleblower retaliation, due-process fights, and careers jeopardized by clearance issues. In that kind ...

Continue Reading...
 
Why State’s New “Fidelity” Standard Threatens Merit Protections civil service protections dei in government federal employment merit systems mspb appeals Nov 20, 2025

Federal employees have seen many political swings over the years, but the State Department’s reported decision to award retroactive promotions and back pay to nearly 300 employees who were previously ...

Continue Reading...
THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE BRIEFING

Your Trusted Guide in Uncertain Times

Stay informed, stay protected. The Federal Employee Briefing delivers expert insights on workforce policies, legal battles, RTO mandates, and union updates—so you’re never caught off guard. With job security, telework, and agency shifts constantly evolving, we provide clear, concise analysis on what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can do next.

📩 Get the latest updates straight to your inbox—because your career depends on it.

You're safe with me. I'll never spam you or sell your contact info.