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.

 
Presidential Impoundment Power Could Upend Federal Agency Budgets budget cuts executive power federal employment impoundment control act mindfulness at work May 16, 2025

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 Impoundment Control ...

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GAO Data Confirms What Federal Workers Already Know federal employment gao report mindfulness at work return to office telework May 16, 2025

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 strategic necessity...

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How a Supreme Court Shift Could Undermine Your Rights Across State Lines constitutional rights federal employment federal workplace protections mspb appeals nationwide injunctions May 16, 2025

A pending Supreme Court decision could unravel how federal workplace rights are protected—and federal employees need to brace for the potential fallout. At the center of the case is a challenge to nat...

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When a Recall Isn’t a Reprieve: CDC’s One-for-One Staff Swap Explained cdc recall federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals rif rights May 15, 2025

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 looked like a welco...

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A Return to “Schedule F”? What Every Policy-Facing Fed Needs to Know civil service protections federal employment mspb appeals opm rulemaking schedule f May 15, 2025

If your federal job involves influencing policy—through writing, advising, or analyzing—you could be on the verge of losing your civil service protections. A newly proposed rule by the Office of Perso...

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OSC Flip-Flops on Probationary Firing Rules federal employment mspb appeals osc reversal probationary status rif law May 15, 2025

In a startling reversal, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) now argues that federal agencies can terminate probationary employees with few limits. For probationers—especially those impacted by Februa...

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How to Add Your Voice to the Schedule Policy/Career Debate May 15, 2025

We created this page because thousands of federal employees have asked the same question: “I’m worried—how do I actually tell OPM what this rule will do to my career?”  The process is easier than you ...

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OPM Cancels Workday Deal: What It Means for Federal Employees federal employment hr system failures opm contracts rifs May 13, 2025

In a move that caught many off guard, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) abruptly canceled its sole-source contract with Workday—a key piece of its HR overhaul. This wasn’t just a tech procureme...

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Could a Foreign-Funded Air Force One Violate the Constitution? federal employee ethics foreign emoluments clause mindfulness at work presidential ethics trump legal issues May 13, 2025

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 President Trump a $4...

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How RIF Plans and Hidden ARPs Could Shape Your Federal Career agency reorganization federal employment legal defense mindfulness at work rif lawsuit May 13, 2025

A recent legal standoff over Agency Reduction in Force (RIF) and  Reorganization Plans—called ARRPs—offers a powerful glimpse into the legal chessboard shaping federal careers. Judge Susan Illston has...

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Proposed Pension Cuts Would Slash Federal Pay and Delay Public Services congressional budget cuts federal employment fers retirement mindfulness at work pension reform May 12, 2025

Federal employees, especially those at the GS-9 level and above, are staring down a troubling new proposal from House leadership: cuts to retirement benefits masked as budget discipline. But these are...

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Federal Judge Halts HHS Layoffs Amid Constitutional Concerns constitutional law federal employment hhs layoffs public health rif notices May 12, 2025

On Friday, May 9, a senior U.S. District Judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) that blocked sweeping layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the CDC. This judicial ...

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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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