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.

 
Supreme Court Fast-Tracks DOGE Access to Social Security Data federal employment mindfulness at work privacy act shadow docket social security data Jun 09, 2025

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 reversed a lower cou...

Continue Reading...
 
New 5-Day Suitability Rule Could Fast-Track Federal Removals due process rights federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals opm suitability rule Jun 09, 2025

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 business days. Unlike t...

Continue Reading...
 
Supreme Court Deadlines May Decide Your Federal Job Security afge v. trump federal employment mindfulness at work rif injunction supreme court Jun 09, 2025

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 Force (RIF) actions re...

Continue Reading...
 
RIFs May Hit Federal Agencies if Supreme Court Lifts Block federal employment federal job security mindfulness at work rif notices supreme court Jun 07, 2025

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. This potential ruling ...

Continue Reading...
 
Job-Hunting After Federal Layoff: Legal and Emotional Survival Tips federal employment job search layoffs mindfulness at work termination Jun 06, 2025

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 professionals especially...

Continue Reading...
 
Supreme Court Ruling Strengthens Civil Rights for All Employees eeoc federal employment lgbtq rights supreme court rulings title vii Jun 06, 2025

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? The answer is a re...

Continue Reading...
 
SCOTUS RIF Ruling Could Trigger Massive Federal Layoffs federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals rif scotus layoffs Jun 06, 2025

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 modern history. This leg...

Continue Reading...
 
Proposed Bill Threatens Civil Service Protections at-will status civil service reform federal employment legal rights mspb appeals Jun 05, 2025

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 90002 and 70302—tha...

Continue Reading...
 
TSA Union Contract Reinstated After Federal Court Ruling administrative law federal employment mindfulness at work tsa union rights Jun 05, 2025

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 process, union rights, an...

Continue Reading...
 
Federal Judge Warns State and HUD: RIF Violations May Trigger Contempt department of state federal employment hud layoffs mspb appeals rif injunction Jun 05, 2025

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 legal question—whet...

Continue Reading...
 
OPM’s Suitability Rule Could Gut Due Process Rights due process federal employment opm rule suitability standards whistleblower protections Jun 04, 2025

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. Historically, suitability ...

Continue Reading...
 
Legal Risks of OPM’s May 29 Hiring Memo dei ban federal employment first amendment rights merit system opm hiring memo Jun 04, 2025

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-based selection. If you'...

Continue Reading...
THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE BRIEFING

Your Trusted Guide in Uncertain Times

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.

📩 Get the latest updates straight to your inbox—because your career depends on it.

You're safe with me. I'll never spam you or sell your contact info.