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

Court Blocks Executive Order Targeting Federal Unions

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A significant legal development is offering breathing room for thousands of federal workers: a federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction halting parts of an executive order...

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How Federal Hearings Really Work: A Look Behind the Curtain

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Most federal employees never see the inside of a hearing room—virtual or otherwise—until their own job is on the line. And when they do, the experience can feel overwhelming: thous...

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Congress May Grant Sweeping Powers to Restructure Federal Agencies

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Buried in the latest Senate reconciliation bill is a proposal that could profoundly alter the federal civil service. The Reorganizing Government Act of 2025 would revive executive ...

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OPM’s New Directive Reshapes Federal Performance Evaluations

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On June 17, 2025, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued an 18-page memorandum that redefines the performance appraisal landscape for all federal employees. Among the swee...

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Supreme Court RIF Case: What Two Bipartisan Briefs Reveal

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While federal employees await the Supreme Court’s decision on the nationwide RIF injunction, two strikingly aligned amicus briefs have emerged—one from Reagan-Bush era conservative...

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New 5-Day Suitability Rule Could Fast-Track Federal Removals

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A March 2025 OPM memo and a June 3 draft rule introduce a drastic shift: federal employees—even career SES and veterans—can now be declared "unsuitable" and removed within five bus...

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SCOTUS RIF Ruling Could Trigger Massive Federal Layoffs

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Federal employees across agencies—from the IRS to HHS—are awaiting a pivotal Supreme Court decision that could either trigger or prevent the largest wave of federal layoffs in mode...

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Proposed Bill Threatens Civil Service Protections

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Congress is advancing legislation that, if passed, could drastically reshape federal employment as we know it. Tucked deep inside the sprawling proposal are two provisions—Sections...

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Federal Judge Warns State and HUD: RIF Violations May Trigger Contempt

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For federal employees watching the ongoing Reduction in Force (RIF) litigation, the latest courtroom developments offer both reassurance and reason for vigilance. While the central...

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Where Do RIF Layoffs Stand Today?

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If you've received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice recently, you're not alone—and you're not without recourse. A federal judge in California issued a preliminary injunction again...

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RIF Layoffs Still Frozen—What the Court's Ruling Means for You

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Late last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to lift the injunction blocking government-wide reductions in force (RIFs) that stem from a recent Executive Order. For ...

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House Bill Targets FERS Annuity Supplement and Adds New Filing Fees

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What Survived the House Vote—And Why It Matters

Last week the House advanced the “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” stripping out two headline-grabbing ideas—the move from a high-3 to a hi...

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Shaun Southworth & Lydia Taylor

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

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