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

Watchdog Firings and the Real Cost of “Savings” at Your Agency

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When federal employees hear about massive government savings—like the $170 billion touted by DOGE —it sounds promising. But if you’re a career fed, especially GS-9 and above, here’...

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Two Federal Rulings Halt Trump's Anti-Union Order—For Now

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In a major turn for federal employees, two court rulings have temporarily stalled the Trump administration’s efforts to strip away collective bargaining rights from large portions ...

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When “Doing More with Less” Becomes a Dangerous Illusion

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Federal employees have long faced the myth that service improves when agencies are “streamlined.” But recent testimony from agency leaders to Congress suggests a deeper problem: a ...

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When FEMA Is Gutted, Everyone Feels the Storm

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Imagine a Category 4 hurricane charging toward the coast—but this time, FEMA isn’t fully staffed, trained, or funded. That’s no longer hypothetical. In the wake of the Trump admini...

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How to Stay Grounded After a Federal Layoff or Suspension

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When layoffs or removals hit the federal workforce, the damage runs deeper than numbers. These are lives interrupted—mothers, veterans, researchers—cut adrift often with little war...

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Was Your RIF Illegal? Red Flags Federal Employees Should Look Out For

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In recent months, we've seen a troubling pattern: federal agencies issuing Reduction in Force (RIF) notices that raise serious legal questions. According to some legal scholars and...

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The RIF Freeze May End—What That Means for You

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Federal employees are in a moment of deep uncertainty. A federal judge recently paused sweeping Reduction in Force (RIF) actions across 21 agencies, citing likely violations of civ...

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Agencies May Sideline Unions After Court Revives Executive Orders

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A recent federal appeals court decision has shaken the foundation of collective bargaining rights for millions of federal employees. On Friday, a split panel of the D.C. Circuit li...

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Presidential Impoundment Power Could Upend Federal Agency Budgets

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Federal employees may be facing a new wave of budget instability—and this time, it's not coming from Congress. The White House is reportedly considering a legal end-run around the ...

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GAO Data Confirms What Federal Workers Already Know

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A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has thrown hard evidence behind what many federal employees have been saying for years: telework isn’t just convenient—it’s a...

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When a Recall Isn’t a Reprieve: CDC’s One-for-One Staff Swap Explained

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This week, the CDC made headlines by recalling approximately 300 occupational health specialists—many of whom were previously swept up in reductions-in-force (RIFs). But what first...

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Could a Foreign-Funded Air Force One Violate the Constitution?

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When the gifts are this grand, the legal scrutiny should be, too. A recent scenario raises serious constitutional and ethical questions: what if a foreign government gifted former ...

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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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