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.

 
What the State Department, Education, and HHS RIFs Mean for Federal Employees federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals reduction in force supreme court shadow docket Jul 15, 2025

The July 11 layoff notices at the U.S. State Department sent shockwaves through the federal workforce. More than 1,350 employees—civil service and Foreign Service alike—were told their positions are b...

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HHS RIF Notice Failures: RIF Notice Comes After You’re Locked Out employee rights federal employment hhs layoffs mspb appeals rif notice Jul 15, 2025

For many Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees, July 14 wasn’t just another Monday—it was the moment they found out they’d already been separated. At 5:00 PM, emails titled “Importan...

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HHS RIF Notices May Violate Federal Regulations due process violations federal employment hhs layoffs mspb appeals rif notices Jul 14, 2025

Federal Reduction in Force (RIF) procedures are governed by strict timelines and procedural safeguards. So when employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began receiving separatio...

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What to Do If You're Hit by a RIF at State or Any Federal Agency federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals rif appeals state department layoffs Jul 14, 2025

Last Friday, over 1,300 employees at the State Department received notice of a Reduction in Force (RIF). Most were career civil servants; some were Foreign Service officers. For many, the 60-day separ...

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Supreme Court RIF Ruling: What Judge Illston’s New Order Means federal employment federal layoffs judge illston rulings mspb appeals rif updates Jul 11, 2025

Federal employees nationwide have been bracing for mass reductions in force (RIFs) after the Supreme Court lifted Judge Illston’s previous block on agency layoffs. But a late Wednesday night ruling ha...

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Southworth PC Hiring Remote Attorneys for Federal Practice attorney hiring eeoc claims federal employment mspb appeals whistleblower retaliation Jul 10, 2025

If you’re an attorney with courtroom fire and a heart for public service, Southworth PC invites you to consider joining our team. We are expanding to hire two, possibly three, remote attorneys to stre...

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What Happens After a Federal RIF Notice federal employment federal layoffs mspb appeals reduction in force rif notices Jul 10, 2025

If you’ve received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice or fear one is coming, understanding what triggers a fresh 60-day notice—and what doesn’t—can protect your job, retirement timeline, and peace of m...

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Supreme Court RIF Decision: Common Questions, Answered federal employment rights federal rif mspb appeals probationary employees supreme court Jul 09, 2025

Yesterday’s Supreme Court move has many federal employees on edge. Let’s be clear: the Court did not approve mass firings. Instead, it lifted an injunction that paused certain Reduction in Force (RIF)...

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Supreme Court Ruling on RIFs: What Federal Employees Need to Know executive orders federal employment mspb appeals rifs supreme court ruling Jul 08, 2025

The Supreme Court issued a ruling in Trump v. AFGE that left many federal employees feeling anxious and confused. Let’s unpack what this decision actually means for you so you can respond with clarity...

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The Supreme Court’s Silence on RIF: What Federal Employees Should Know federal employment mspb appeals rif injunction shadow docket supreme court Jul 07, 2025

Federal employees across agencies are anxiously refreshing for news on the Supreme Court’s ruling on the nationwide RIF (Reduction in Force) injunction. As of today, no decision has been issued. The b...

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OPM Suitability Rule: 5-Day Removal Notices Ahead? due process federal employment federal employee rights mspb appeals opm suitability rule removal notice period Jul 02, 2025

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has proposed a suitability and fitness rule that could reshape federal employment protections as you know them. The public comment period closes tomorrow, July...

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Court Double Freezes Layoffs at Certain Parts of HHS federal employment federal layoffs hhs rif mindfulness at work mspb appeals Jul 02, 2025

Federal employees across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) received unexpected news this week. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting planned reductions in force (RIFs...

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