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.

 
VA Staffing Caps: What Federal Employees Need to Know federal employment federal job security mindfulness at work rif risk va staffing Sep 04, 2025

Starting October 1, the Department of Veterans Affairs will begin enforcing what it calls “baseline” staffing caps across all divisions—health, benefits, and cemeteries. According to reporting from Go...

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Finding Strength in Transition: How Federal Employees Can Use Mantras to Regain Focus, Peace, and Confidence federal employment mantra mindfulness Sep 03, 2025

Introduction: The Weight of the DRP Decision

For many federal employees, the Discontinued Service Retirement (DRP) or early-out options feel like a lifeline when they first appear. The uncertainty of...

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Why Moving U.S. Space Command Risks National Security federal employment national security relocation costs space command workforce retention Sep 03, 2025

U.S. Space Command is not a symbolic outpost—it is the nerve center for tracking missiles, defending satellites, and guarding against hostile actions from nations like China, Russia, and North Korea. ...

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Unmasking ICE Agents: Privacy, Power, and Legal Risks ai and privacy facial recognition federal employment ice agents law enforcement transparency Sep 03, 2025

In recent weeks, a provocative use of artificial intelligence has surfaced: citizens are using AI tools to digitally strip away the masks worn by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers dur...

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Fifth Circuit Blocks Trump’s Use of Alien Enemies Act due process federal employment fifth circuit immigration law presidential power Sep 03, 2025

In a striking decision, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals—one of the nation’s most conservative courts—ruled that President Trump could not use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelan migr...

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CDC Shake-Up: Protecting Federal Employees Amid Political Turmoil cdc leadership federal employment mindfulness at work scientific integrity whistleblower rights Sep 02, 2025

The removal of CDC Director Susan Monarez after just weeks on the job—and the immediate resignation of several senior leaders—has left the agency in turmoil. While headlines focus on political maneuve...

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2026 Federal Pay Raise: What Employees Need to Know federal employment federal pay raise law enforcement pay mindfulness at work opm guidance Sep 02, 2025

Federal employees have been bracing for a pay freeze in 2026. But the White House’s just-released alternative pay plan delivers a modest surprise: a raise is back on the table—though not equally for e...

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CDC Vaccine Expert Resigns Over Politics in Science cdc resignation federal employment mindfulness at work vaccine policy whistleblower protection Aug 29, 2025

The resignation of Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, one of the nation’s leading vaccine experts, is not just another D.C. headline. His departure signals something far more personal: federal science profession...

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FLETC Training Freeze Leaves Federal Agencies Vulnerable federal employment fletc ice surge law enforcement training mindfulness at work Aug 29, 2025

The Trump administration has announced that the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) will pause nearly all training for non-ICE agencies through year’s end. This decision aims to fast-trac...

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Why Lisa Cook’s Case Matters for Every Federal Employee due process federal employment federal reserve lisa cook removal protections Aug 29, 2025

When President Trump announced he was firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, it looked at first like another political flashpoint. But for federal employees, this lawsuit carries deeper meaning. A...

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CDC Leadership Crisis and Federal Governance Breakdown agency instability cdc leadership federal employment mindfulness at work whistleblower protection Aug 29, 2025

The attempted removal of CDC Director Susan Monarez highlights a critical legal issue: under federal law, only the President—not agency heads or political appointees—can dismiss a Senate-confirmed off...

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Grand Jury Pushback: The “Ham Sandwich” Case That Didn’t Stick federal employment grand jury indictment mindfulness at work mspb appeals Aug 28, 2025

Federal employees often hear the phrase, “a prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich.” That saying captures a sobering truth: federal grand juries almost always side with prosecutors. Which is why last we...

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Stay informed, stay protected. The Federal Employee Briefing delivers expert insights on workforce policies, legal battles, RTO mandates, and union updates—so you’re never caught off guard. With job security, telework, and agency shifts constantly evolving, we provide clear, concise analysis on what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can do next.

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