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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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The Power of Pause: Why Rest Is a Federal Employee’s Best Asset
Federal employees carry a unique kind of weight. Many of you are navigating intense responsibility while simultaneously facing disciplinary threats, probation stress, or workplace ...
Introducing Lydia Taylor: New Voice, Same Mission
At Southworth PC, we’ve always believed in showing up—early, often, and with purpose—for the federal employees who need us. Today, we’re proud to formally introduce someone who’s h...
OPM’s New Hiring Memo: Loyalty Tests, Legal Risks & Schedule F 2.0
The Hidden Agenda Behind OPM's New Hiring Memo
Federal employees are no strangers to shifting political winds—but a recent 19-page memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OP...
House Bill Targets FERS Annuity Supplement and Adds New Filing Fees
What Survived the House Vote—And Why It Matters
Last week the House advanced the “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” stripping out two headline-grabbing ideas—the move from a high-3 to a hi...
DOGE Lawsuit Could Reverse Musk-Led Agency Actions
Why This “Slow-Burn” Case Deserves Your Attention
News of the Reduction-in-Force injunction may dominate headlines, but a quieter lawsuit in Washington, D.C. could have an even br...
Ninth Circuit Stay Decision Looms Large Over RIF Pause
Why One Court Order Holds Thousands of Careers in the Balance - Here are my answers to common questions we have received
Judge Illston’s nationwide injunction has frozen every Red...
96% Pushbacks from District Courts: What It Means for Your Job
May brought a wave of legal defeats for the administration—26 out of 27 challenged actions were struck down in federal district courts. If you're a federal employee worried about y...
Nationwide RIF Injunction: Why the Ninth Circuit Decision Matters
Federal employees across 21 agencies—including the VA, IRS, and Department of Education—are holding their breath this week. A nationwide injunction blocking a massive Reduction in ...
How This Week’s RIF Ruling Could Impact Your Federal Career
Federal employees on Reduction-in-Force (RIF) notices are standing on edge this week. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals may rule as early as May 29 on whether to lift a nationwide...
Federal RIF Injunction Halts June Layoffs—for Now
A federal court’s May 23 preliminary injunction has temporarily stopped 21 agencies from carrying out Reduction in Force (RIF) notices—including finalizing those already issued. Fo...
A Warning Wrapped in Policy Shifts
Black federal workers—especially those in HR, EEO, DEI, and civil rights compliance roles—are being pushed out at an alarming rate. If you're paying attention, you know this isn't ...
Preliminary Injunction Freezes RIF Actions Across Federal Agencies
On May 23, Judge Susan Illston issued a pivotal preliminary injunction converting her earlier temporary restraining order into a longer-term legal block. This order prohibits all a...
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Shaun Southworth & Lydia Taylor
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