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.

 
When Leadership Fails: What Federal Employees Deserve civil service protections federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals toxic leadership Jul 29, 2025

A new survey shows what many of us already feel: 95% of federal employees are experiencing rising anxiety, depression, or insomnia in 2025. For those of you showing up to work despite chaos from above...

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How to File a RIF Appeal with the MSPB: Your Fast-Track Guide federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals pro se representation rif Jul 29, 2025

When a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice lands in your inbox, the panic can be paralyzing. Questions spiral: What’s my deadline? Do I have any rights? Should I hire a lawyer? And while some answers depe...

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Paul Ingrassia Nomination Delayed: What Federal Workers Should Know civil service rights federal employment mindfulness at work osc nomination whistleblower protections Jul 25, 2025

Last week, something rare happened in Washington: a pause that actually protects the federal workforce. The Senate abruptly yanked the confirmation hearing for Paul Ingrassia, a controversial nominee ...

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When the System Feels Against You, Breathe box breathing coping with stress federal employment federal layoffs mindfulness at work Jul 25, 2025

It’s not hyperbole to say this year has shaken the foundation for many federal employees. Being labeled “swamp creatures” or blamed for systemic dysfunction is not new—but the current political climat...

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When Nepotism Becomes a Career-Ending Mistake conflict of interest federal employment mspb appeals nepotism law whistleblower protection Jul 24, 2025

The recent ousting of NIH’s Chief Operating Officer, Eric Schnabel, is more than office gossip—it’s a legal and career cautionary tale for federal employees across agencies. Schnabel allegedly steered...

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USDA’s Reassignments: What It Means If You’re Asked to Move directed reassignment federal employment locality pay mspb appeals usda relocation Jul 24, 2025

The USDA has announced a sweeping relocation directive impacting over half of its 4,600 D.C.-based employees. Staff are being told to report to duty stations in Raleigh, Kansas City, Fort Collins, Sal...

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Ninth Circuit Pauses RIF Disclosure Order—What It Means for Feds federal employment government transparency mindfulness at work ninth circuit stay rif litigation Jul 24, 2025

On July 18, 2025, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to disclose details of 40 reduction-in-force (RIF) plans affecting 17 federal agencies. That breakthrough offered a glimmer of transp...

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Trump’s OSC Nominee Raises Alarms for Federal Employee Protections civil service rights ethics in government federal employment osc nominee whistleblower protection Jul 23, 2025

Federal employees, especially those in GS-9 positions and above, know the value of having a strong, impartial Office of Special Counsel (OSC). It’s the last line of defense for whistleblower protectio...

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The VA Is Losing Frontline Staff—and It’s Hurting Veterans federal employment mindfulness at work va staffing crisis veterans affairs whistleblower protections Jul 23, 2025

In recent months, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has quietly shed nearly 7,500 frontline employees—the very people who serve veterans face-to-face every day. The result? A system already stra...

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VA “Mission Review”: No RIF, But Not “No Risk” Either attrition vs rif federal employment mindfulness at work rif alternatives va mission review Jul 22, 2025

There’s big news coming out of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): the feared mass RIF (Reduction in Force) affecting 80,000 employees is officially off the table. Instead, leadership is opting t...

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Judge Slaps Down OMB Secrecy: What It Means for Federal Employees federal employment government transparency legal rights for feds mindfulness at work omb apportionment Jul 22, 2025

Russell Vought, former OMB Director and self-styled “trauma king,” once said the quiet part out loud: that his goal was to make civil servants afraid to come to work. But last week, a federal judge pu...

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Surprise RIFs by Email: What Federal Employees Must Know competitive service rights due process federal employment mspb appeals rif notice Jul 21, 2025

Imagine logging off for the day—only to find an email notifying you that you've been separated from federal service, effective immediately. No warning. No exit ramp. If this scenario sounds familiar, ...

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