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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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How Federal Hearings Really Work: A Look Behind the Curtain
Most federal employees never see the inside of a hearing room—virtual or otherwise—until their own job is on the line. And when they do, the experience can feel overwhelming: thous...
Presidential War Powers: Who Really Decides When the U.S. Goes to War?
As federal employees await the Supreme Court’s decision on the RIF (Reduction in Force) case, another issue of executive power is making waves: the constitutional limits on preside...
Congress May Grant Sweeping Powers to Restructure Federal Agencies
Buried in the latest Senate reconciliation bill is a proposal that could profoundly alter the federal civil service. The Reorganizing Government Act of 2025 would revive executive ...
OPM’s New Directive Reshapes Federal Performance Evaluations
On June 17, 2025, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued an 18-page memorandum that redefines the performance appraisal landscape for all federal employees. Among the swee...
Federal Judge Slams NIH Cuts to DEI Research as Discriminatory
This week, a federal court issued a powerful ruling that every federal employee should pay attention to—especially those working in policy, healthcare, science, or civil rights. A ...
Can VA Doctors Refuse Treatment Based on Politics or Marital Status?
Internal changes to the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) medical staff bylaws have stirred significant controversy—and confusion. Leaked language reportedly removes “political ...
Court Blocks Key Parts of DEI Funding Ban
Late yesterday, a federal district court in California issued a pivotal ruling that directly affects federal employees, contractors, and nonprofits receiving government funding. In...
Federal Job Cuts: What They Don’t Say Out Loud
If you’re a federal employee of color, especially in HR, administrative, or clerical roles, recent agency job cuts aren’t just business—they’re deeply personal. A New York Times ar...
How the CDC Panel Shakeup Could Set a Dangerous Precedent
Federal employees may be tempted to dismiss the abrupt dismissal of all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) as a public health story. But th...
Supreme Court RIF Case: What Two Bipartisan Briefs Reveal
While federal employees await the Supreme Court’s decision on the nationwide RIF injunction, two strikingly aligned amicus briefs have emerged—one from Reagan-Bush era conservative...
Supreme Court Fast-Tracks DOGE Access to Social Security Data
On June 6, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a terse, unsigned order allowing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access real-time Social Security data. The ruling ...
New 5-Day Suitability Rule Could Fast-Track Federal Removals
A March 2025 OPM memo and a June 3 draft rule introduce a drastic shift: federal employees—even career SES and veterans—can now be declared "unsuitable" and removed within five bus...
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