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 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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Mindful Tools for Federal Employees Facing RIF Anxiety federal employee rights federal employment mindfulness at work rif anxiety stress reduction Jul 09, 2025

If recent Reduction in Force (RIF) discussions have you feeling exhausted, you’re not alone. Many federal employees are riding an emotional rollercoaster this year—navigating shifting budgets, mission...

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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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No Department-Wide RIF at VA – But Don’t Let Your Guard Down federal employee rights federal employment mindfulness at work reduction in force va rif Jul 07, 2025

VA Secretary Doug Collins announced that a department-wide reduction in force (RIF) is officially “off the table.” For many federal employees, this lifts the heavy fear of 70,000–80,000 rumored cuts t...

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EPA Admin Leave Fallout: What Federal Employees Need to Know administrative leave epa discipline federal employment first amendment retaliation mindfulness at work Jul 07, 2025

Last week, 139 Environmental Protection Agency employees were abruptly placed on temporary, non-duty paid status—administrative leave—after signing a four-page declaration criticizing Administrator Le...

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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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Political Loyalty Tests: A Quiet but Major OPM Reversal federal employment merit systems mindfulness at work opm hiring policies political discrimination Jul 04, 2025

As Independence Day nears, federal employees have an unexpected reason to celebrate. Last month, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) quietly directed agencies to stop scoring or requiring those c...

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DHS Secretary Wants Loyalty Purge?! Know Your Rights, Federal Employees dhs discipline federal employment merit system principles mindfulness at work prohibited personnel practices Jul 04, 2025

Yesterday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly asked her advisors how to “fire people who don’t like us.” For federal employees, this isn’t just an eyebrow-raising political moment. It ...

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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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Supreme Court Ruling Protects Federal Task Forces administrative law federal employment mindfulness at work rif supreme court Jul 01, 2025

Last week, while many federal employees waited anxiously for the Supreme Court’s decision on the nationwide RIF freeze, the Court quietly handed down a ruling with enormous implications for how our go...

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Announcement: We're Hiring Remote Federal Employment Attorneys! attorney hiring eeoc complaints federal employment mspb appeals remote law jobs Jul 01, 2025

Southworth PC is expanding. As a boutique law firm dedicated solely to defending federal employees when agencies violate their rights, we’ve made a strategic choice: while federal agencies force emplo...

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Senate Reconciliation Bill Spares Federal Pay and Pensions federal employment federal pensions mindfulness at work reconciliation bill union rights Jun 30, 2025

Federal employees woke up to rare good news this Monday. The Senate released its latest text for the giant reconciliation bill – and nearly every proposed cut to your pay, pension, and union rights ha...

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