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

SSA Data Breach Allegations and Whistleblower Risk

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A recent report from The Washington Post describes a whistleblower complaint that should capture the attention of both federal employees and the public. According to the complaint ...

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DoD “Voluntary” Border Details: What Civilian Employees Should Document

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Defense civilian employees may recently have received a memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth encouraging volunteers for temporary details to the Department of Homeland Security...

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Schedule Policy/Career Lawsuit: The Three Comments Problem

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Federal employees following the controversy around Schedule Policy/Career already understand the stakes. The rule allows agencies to reclassify certain career positions into a new ...

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OPM’s New Performance and RIF Rules: Why Feds Should Pay Attention

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Federal employees often experience policy changes one rule at a time. But sometimes the legal significance becomes clear only when multiple proposals are viewed together. Three rec...

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The Schedule Policy/Career Rule Just Cleared the Runway

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As of March 9, the 30-day waiting period following the Office of Personnel Management’s final rule creating Schedule Policy/Career has expired. That technical milestone carries sig...

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Court Voids USAGM RIF Over Vacancies Act Violation

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A recent federal court ruling offers an important reminder that even major personnel actions must comply with the rule of law. In a decision involving the U.S. Agency for Global Me...

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Why Federal Employees Should Pause Before Replying

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Many federal employees recognize the moment instantly: a vague email from HR, an unexpected calendar invitation, or a short message from a supervisor that raises more questions tha...

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Lawsuit Challenges Schedule Policy/Career Rule

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A coalition of major labor and watchdog organizations—including AFGE, AFSCME, the AFL-CIO, and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility—recently strengthened their legal c...

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Federal Workforce Cuts and Schedule Policy/Career

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Federal employees often ask what the rest of 2026 may hold for the civil service. Recent comments from senior administration officials offer a clearer picture—and they carry signif...

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DHS Leadership Controversies and Accountability

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Federal employees are often reminded that public service comes with heightened scrutiny and strict legal standards. Those expectations apply not only to rank-and-file employees but...

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DOJ Rule Proposal on State Bar Oversight

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Federal employees often assume attorney ethics rules operate the same inside government as they do outside it. A newly proposed Department of Justice regulation challenges that ass...

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Resilience for Federal Employees Beyond the Badge

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Federal employees are facing an unusual level of uncertainty. Policy changes, proposed rules, workplace restructuring, and shifting expectations can leave even seasoned GS-level pr...

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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.

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