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.

 
Agencies Reassess RIFs Amid Voluntary Exits and Legal Pressure federal employment legal rights mindfulness at work opm rif Jul 16, 2025

If you’re a federal employee watching the Reduction in Force (RIF) situation unfold, you’re likely feeling the emotional whiplash. Just this week, the White House admitted to tracking 70 active RIF ac...

Continue Reading...
 
What the McMahon v. New York Ruling Means for Federal Layoffs federal employment mcmahon v. new york mindfulness at work reduction in force supreme court shadow docket Jul 16, 2025

Federal employees, especially those affected by recent RIFs at the Department of Education, are right to feel unsettled. In McMahon v. New York, the Supreme Court issued a brief, unsigned “Shadow Dock...

Continue Reading...
 
DOJ Blocks Release of RIF Plans in California Federal Layoff Case doj lawsuit federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals rif layoffs Jul 16, 2025

A new filing in the California RIF lawsuit reveals the Biden administration’s decision to keep federal layoff plans—formally called Agency RIF & Reorganization Plans (ARRPs)—under wraps. For federal e...

Continue Reading...
 
Supreme Court RIF Ruling Threatens Department of Education’s Future department of education federal employment rif separation of powers supreme court Jul 15, 2025

In an extraordinary and troubling move, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority has allowed the Department of Education to sideline 1,378 employees—more than half its workforce—without issuing a ful...

Continue Reading...
 
What the State Department, Education, and HHS RIFs Mean for Federal Employees federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals reduction in force supreme court shadow docket Jul 15, 2025

The July 11 layoff notices at the U.S. State Department sent shockwaves through the federal workforce. More than 1,350 employees—civil service and Foreign Service alike—were told their positions are b...

Continue Reading...
 
HHS RIF Notice Failures: RIF Notice Comes After You’re Locked Out employee rights federal employment hhs layoffs mspb appeals rif notice Jul 15, 2025

For many Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees, July 14 wasn’t just another Monday—it was the moment they found out they’d already been separated. At 5:00 PM, emails titled “Importan...

Continue Reading...
 
HHS RIF Notices May Violate Federal Regulations due process violations federal employment hhs layoffs mspb appeals rif notices Jul 14, 2025

Federal Reduction in Force (RIF) procedures are governed by strict timelines and procedural safeguards. So when employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began receiving separatio...

Continue Reading...
 
SC Ruling Allows Federal Layoffs at Education Department to Proceed civil service rights federal employment mindfulness at work rifs scotus lets education department rifs move forward supreme court Jul 14, 2025

A new Supreme Court order has intensified the uncertainty for federal employees affected by Reduction in Force (RIF) actions—and it’s part of a growing trend. In McMahon v. New York, the Court allowed...

Continue Reading...
 
Federal Layoffs, FEMA Failures, and What Federal Workers Must Do Now civil service rights federal employment fema rif supreme court ruling Jul 14, 2025

While floodwaters rose in Texas and 120 Americans waited helplessly on rooftops, FEMA’s call centers were overwhelmed with more than 16,000 cries for help. Yet 84% of those calls went unanswered. Why?...

Continue Reading...
 
Supreme Court Fight Over CPSC Firings Could Gut Federal Job Protections cpsc federal employment for-cause removal independent agencies supreme court Jul 14, 2025

If you're a federal employee—especially one with for-cause removal protections—there's a case flying under the radar that deserves your full attention. On July 2, the Biden administration asked the Su...

Continue Reading...
 
What to Do If You're Hit by a RIF at State or Any Federal Agency federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals rif appeals state department layoffs Jul 14, 2025

Last Friday, over 1,300 employees at the State Department received notice of a Reduction in Force (RIF). Most were career civil servants; some were Foreign Service officers. For many, the 60-day separ...

Continue Reading...
 
Supreme Court RIF Ruling: What Judge Illston’s New Order Means federal employment federal layoffs judge illston rulings mspb appeals rif updates Jul 11, 2025

Federal employees nationwide have been bracing for mass reductions in force (RIFs) after the Supreme Court lifted Judge Illston’s previous block on agency layoffs. But a late Wednesday night ruling ha...

Continue Reading...
THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE BRIEFING

Your Trusted Guide in Uncertain Times

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.

📩 Get the latest updates straight to your inbox—because your career depends on it.

You're safe with me. I'll never spam you or sell your contact info.