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.

 
Leaked Memo Reveals Push to Use Shutdown for Federal Layoffs civil service protections federal employment merit system integrity mspb appeals shutdown rif Oct 28, 2025

A newly leaked document confirms what many suspected: some in Washington saw the recent shutdown not just as a funding lapse, but as an opportunity to reshape the federal workforce. According to Polit...

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FDA Payroll Glitch: What Federal Employees Should Know fda employees federal employment mindfulness at work payroll error shutdown 2025 Oct 28, 2025

Roughly 7,000 FDA employees recently saw their paychecks vanish or shrink after an internal timekeeping error coded them as furloughed—even though they’re exempt. In federal terms, “exempt” means your...

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Shutdown RIFs and the Human Cost of Uncertainty employee rights federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals shutdown rif Oct 27, 2025

The latest shutdown-related Reduction in Force (RIF) filings put names, faces, and fears on record—reminders that behind every “cost-saving measure” are human beings who have served their country for ...

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Intentional Calm: Two Daily Habits to Steady Federal Workdays federal employment furlough stress mindfulness at work resilience workplace wellbeing Oct 27, 2025

For federal employees facing furloughs or ongoing instability, the sense of control can vanish overnight. One powerful way to regain balance is through intention—using deliberate, daily practices that...

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Can the President Order Military Strikes on Drug Boats? federal employment law of armed conflict military orders mindfulness at work whistleblower protections Oct 24, 2025

Since early September, reports have surfaced of U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. The White House has justified the actions by claiming the ...

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Court Filings Seek Full Injunction to Halt Shutdown RIFs administrative procedure act federal employment mspb appeals preliminary injunction shutdown rifs Oct 23, 2025

Federal employees, the plaintiffs in the shutdown-RIF lawsuit are now asking the court to extend its temporary restraining order (TRO) into a Preliminary Injunction—a longer-term safeguard that would ...

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Shutdown RIF Case: Court Expands Federal Worker Protections federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals rif case shutdown law Oct 23, 2025

Federal employees across agencies remain protected under Judge Susan Illston’s Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), which continues to block all shutdown-related Reduction in Force (RIF) actions. In sho...

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Department of Defense vs. Department of War: What the Law Actually Says department of defense executive orders federal employment government history legal analysis Oct 22, 2025

If you’ve seen talk of “restoring the Department of War,” you’re not imagining it—but the legal reality is simpler than the headlines. Under Title 5 of the U.S. Code, the Department of Defense (DoD) i...

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Inspector General Removals and Why Federal Employees Should Care federal employment inspectors general merit system mindfulness at work whistleblower protection Oct 22, 2025

On October 15, the White House removed Parisa Salehi, the Senate-confirmed Inspector General (IG) at the Export-Import Bank—without giving Congress the 30-day notice and written rationale required by ...

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SSA Shutdown AWOL Policies May Violate the Rehabilitation Act awol federal employment rehabilitation act shutdown rights ssa employees Oct 22, 2025

Federal employees classified as “excepted” during the shutdown—especially at SSA—are facing a confusing mix of leave cancellations, telework denials, and AWOL threats. If this sounds familiar, it’s wo...

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Mindful Breathing for Federal Employees Under Shutdown Stress employee wellness federal employment mindfulness at work shutdown stress southworth pc Oct 21, 2025

If you’re a federal employee facing missed paychecks or furlough uncertainty, you’re not alone. Across the country, public servants are carrying heavy stress—financial strain, disrupted routines, and ...

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Shutdown RIF Update: Interior’s Numbers, TRO Expansion, and What Comes Next federal employment merit systems mspb appeals rif shutdown law Oct 21, 2025

Federal employees, here’s where things stand in the AFGE/AFSCME case that’s temporarily blocking shutdown-related RIFs. As of this week, the Department of the Interior has disclosed the largest planne...

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