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

Supreme Court Signals Shift on Independent Agencies

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When the Supreme Court devotes nearly two hours to questioning whether the President can fire leaders of “independent” agencies at will, federal employees should take notice. The a...

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Schedule F Returns: What the New FOIA Lawsuit Means

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A new FOIA lawsuit seeks OPM’s secret Schedule Policy/Career lists. Here’s what federal policy employees need to know about potential at-will conversion.

Federal employees in poli...

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Trump-Era Layoffs and the Future of the Federal Workforce

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This week, Politico confirmed what many federal employees have been experiencing firsthand: sweeping staff cuts across the government. Nearly 200,000 federal workers are gone in 20...

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CFPB RIF Ruling: What Federal Employees Must Know

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On August 15, 2025, a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., issued a major decision on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Reduction in Force (RIF) case. The rulin...

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Paul Ingrassia Nomination Delayed: What Federal Workers Should Know

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Last week, something rare happened in Washington: a pause that actually protects the federal workforce. The Senate abruptly yanked the confirmation hearing for Paul Ingrassia, a co...

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Trump’s OSC Nominee Raises Alarms for Federal Employee Protections

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Federal employees, especially those in GS-9 positions and above, know the value of having a strong, impartial Office of Special Counsel (OSC). It’s the last line of defense for whi...

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SC Ruling Allows Federal Layoffs at Education Department to Proceed

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A new Supreme Court order has intensified the uncertainty for federal employees affected by Reduction in Force (RIF) actions—and it’s part of a growing trend. In McMahon v. New Yor...

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Federal Layoffs, FEMA Failures, and What Federal Workers Must Do Now

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While floodwaters rose in Texas and 120 Americans waited helplessly on rooftops, FEMA’s call centers were overwhelmed with more than 16,000 cries for help. Yet 84% of those calls w...

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Schedule F Is Back—Here’s How to Stay Grounded and Protected

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Imagine waking up on a Monday to find your career protections quietly stripped away. That’s the unsettling reality many federal employees now face. Late on a recent Friday, the Off...

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When the Executive Branch Ignores a Court Order: Why It Matters for You

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In a stunning recent turn of events, a federal judge found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt for ignoring a court order to stop two deportation f...

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Protecting Your Federal Career Amid Budget Cuts

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If you work in global health, peacekeeping, foreign service, or federal development, you may be facing a sobering reality: deep, targeted cuts to programs that have defined your ag...

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Shaun Southworth & Lydia Taylor

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