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

Protect Your Federal Job from Schedule F Reclassifications

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Recent developments at the Social Security Administration (SSA) should give every federal employee pause. Acting SSA Commissioner Leland Ick has reportedly ordered the reclassifica...

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Judge Halts CFPB Mass Layoffs: What Feds Should Know

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In a stunning turn of events, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) attempted to lay off nearly 90% of its workforce overnight—but a federal judge stepped in just in time...

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When the Watchdog Walks Away: What Now for Probationary Feds?

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If you're a probationary federal employee who filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and recently received a case closure notice, you're not alone—and your conc...

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Were You a Probationary Federal Employee Let Go in February? Here’s What You Need to Know.

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If you were one of the many probationary federal employees dismissed this past February, your situation may feel uncertain, disorienting—even unfair. Recent courtroom developments,...

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When Your Union Vanishes Overnight: A Wake-Up Call for Federal Employees

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Imagine this: You badge into your VA job, ready for the day—and suddenly, your union protections are gone. No notice, no negotiation, just... vanished. That’s what happened when th...

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When “Five Wins” Becomes a Trap: How to Protect Your Federal Career

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If you’re a federal employee facing pressure to report weekly accomplishments—or “five wins”—you’re not alone. In recent weeks, agencies from the EPA to NIH have been quietly scali...

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Schedule F Is Back—Here’s How to Stay Grounded and Protected

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Imagine waking up on a Monday to find your career protections quietly stripped away. That’s the unsettling reality many federal employees now face. Late on a recent Friday, the Off...

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Schedule F Is Back: What Federal Workers Must Know

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We’re witnessing a potentially seismic shift in federal employment protections. Axios is reporting that the Trump administration is preparing to reintroduce Schedule F—a controvers...

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Is Your EEO Claim Strong? Here’s How to Know.

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One email, a sudden reassignment, or an unexpected drop in your telework status—these may seem small at first, but they could signal a deeper issue: unlawful discrimination or reta...

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FDA is Mapping an Exit for Routine Food Safety Inspections Nationwide

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In a quietly brewing shift, the FDA is reportedly preparing to offload routine food safety inspections to state and local agencies—many of which are already underfunded and overext...

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Federal Job Shake-Up: What CFPB Cuts Mean for You

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News of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) abruptly laying off over 1,500 public service employees has sent a shockwave through the federal workforce. These aren't jus...

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When Inclusion Becomes a Risk: Mindfulness for the New Federal Landscape

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If you're feeling shaken by the latest federal mandate to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, you're not alone. Recent orders require agencies to erase DEI i...

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The Mindful Federal Employee is part of a broader public-education ecosystem from Shaun Southworth, Lydia Taylor, and Southworth PC. Use the resource that fits the question and the moment.

Podcast

Civil Rights for Civil Servants

Hear Shaun Southworth and Lydia Taylor explain federal employee rights, public service, workplace systems, and the people navigating them.

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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.

Meet Shaun & Lydia

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