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

Army Civilian Reassignments and RIF Rights

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The Army’s current “rebalancing process” places thousands of civilian employees in a difficult position: accept a reassignment—sometimes across the country—or face separation. With...

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HUD Telework Ruling: What Federal Employees Should Know

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For many federal employees, telework has long been treated as a workplace benefit—something flexible, even temporary. But the recent arbitration decision involving HUD reframes tha...

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MSPB Ruling on Immigration Judges Explained

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A recent MSPB decision—Jackler and Jaroch v. Department of Justice, 2026 MSPB 3—raises a fundamental question for federal employees: when does the Constitution override traditional...

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VA Court Order Defiance and Union Rights Explained

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A federal court order is not a suggestion—it is binding law. Yet the Department of Veterans Affairs recently tested that boundary by claiming compliance with a court-ordered reinst...

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Can Courts Void DOGE Actions Under the Appointments Clause?

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A recent federal ruling in New Mexico v. Musk has generated significant attention—and understandable hope among federal employees affected by DOGE-related actions. But clarity is e...

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VA Union Contract Reinstatement: Legal Fallout

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On March 13, 2026, a federal judge ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reinstate its Master Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with AFGE, restoring rights for mor...

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TSA Back Pay and Federal Workers’ Rights

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For five weeks, roughly 50,000 TSA employees reportedly worked without pay while airports slowed, lines stretched for hours, and the public was told there was no immediate solution...

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DEI Reassignments and Federal Employee Rights

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Recent developments at the Interior Department highlight a pattern federal employees should understand. Dozens of employees who spent more than a year on involuntary paid administr...

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Schedule Policy/Career: Before You Sign the Form

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Federal employees have not yet seen formal Schedule Policy/Career conversions implemented—but the paperwork is already in place. The Office of Personnel Management has prepared an ...

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When “DEI” Becomes a Legal Standard Without a Definition

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A recent federal court ruling allowed deposition videos of former DOGE staffers to remain public, emphasizing a core principle: transparency outweighs discomfort when government of...

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Southworth PC Expands Support for Federal Employees

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For federal employees facing discipline, probationary removal, EEO retaliation, or abrupt policy shifts, the quality of legal representation can change the course of a career. That...

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MSPB Ruling on Immigration Judges and Article II

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A recent Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) decision, Jackler and Jaroch v. Department of Justice, marks a significant shift in how certain federal employees may be classified—a...

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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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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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