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

Supreme Court Deadlines May Decide Your Federal Job Security

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If you're a federal employee nervously refreshing your inbox, you're not alone. Two major injunctions—now before the Supreme Court—could decide whether thousands of Reduction in Fo...

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RIFs May Hit Federal Agencies if Supreme Court Lifts Block

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Over the weekend, news broke that federal agencies may be poised to issue Reduction in Force (RIF) notices as soon as this week—if the Supreme Court lifts a current legal block. Th...

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Job-Hunting After Federal Layoff: Legal and Emotional Survival Tips

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If you're a federal worker navigating layoff, contract loss, or job uncertainty, you're far from alone. The current landscape is hitting analysts, scientists, and grants-based prof...

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Supreme Court Ruling Strengthens Civil Rights for All Employees

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In the wake of ongoing attacks on DEI initiatives and uncertainty about the future of workplace civil rights, federal employees may rightly wonder: are EEO protections still intact...

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SCOTUS RIF Ruling Could Trigger Massive Federal Layoffs

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Federal employees across agencies—from the IRS to HHS—are awaiting a pivotal Supreme Court decision that could either trigger or prevent the largest wave of federal layoffs in mode...

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Proposed Bill Threatens Civil Service Protections

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Congress is advancing legislation that, if passed, could drastically reshape federal employment as we know it. Tucked deep inside the sprawling proposal are two provisions—Sections...

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TSA Union Contract Reinstated After Federal Court Ruling

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A significant legal decision out of Washington State has turned the tables for over 47,000 TSA officers—and may offer hope to federal employees everywhere concerned about due proce...

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Federal Judge Warns State and HUD: RIF Violations May Trigger Contempt

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For federal employees watching the ongoing Reduction in Force (RIF) litigation, the latest courtroom developments offer both reassurance and reason for vigilance. While the central...

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OPM’s Suitability Rule Could Gut Due Process Rights

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OPM has proposed a major rule change that would allow agencies to remove current federal employees under the same "suitability" standards originally designed for applicants. Histor...

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Legal Risks of OPM’s May 29 Hiring Memo

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Federal hiring may be undergoing a radical shift. The May 29, 2025, Merit Hiring Plan memo imposes new requirements that deviate sharply from the principles of neutral, skills-base...

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Where Do RIF Layoffs Stand Today?

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If you've received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice recently, you're not alone—and you're not without recourse. A federal judge in California issued a preliminary injunction again...

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RIF Layoffs Still Frozen—What the Court's Ruling Means for You

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Late last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to lift the injunction blocking government-wide reductions in force (RIFs) that stem from a recent Executive Order. For ...

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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.

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