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.

 
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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When DOGE Policies Hit Home: Federal Workers Speak Out doge policy employee rights federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals Sep 26, 2025

When sweeping policies land in Washington, headlines often focus on politics, numbers, and high-level strategy. What’s harder to capture is what those shifts feel like in the cubicles, field offices, ...

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Deferred Resignation Reversals: What Federal Employees Should Know deferred resignation program employee rights federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals Sep 19, 2025

This year’s “Fork in the Road” Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) was framed as a way to streamline the federal workforce. Many employees at the Department of Labor and other agencies took the offer: ...

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Due Process Prevails in Lisa Cook Case due process employee rights federal employment federal reserve mspb appeals Sep 16, 2025

Last night, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals made headlines by blocking the administration’s attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. For federal employees, this case is more than financ...

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Judge Ruled OPM’s Mass Probationary Firings Were Not Lawful employee rights federal employment mspb appeals opm policy probationary employees Sep 15, 2025

Earlier this year, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) directed agencies to list every probationary employee, update that list daily, and fire nearly everyone not labeled “mission critical.” Agen...

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From Defense to War: What the Pentagon’s Rebrand Means department of war employee rights federal employment mindfulness at work pentagon rebrand Sep 11, 2025

On September 5, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to present itself publicly as the “Department of War.” The Pentagon’s new website, war.gov, is already live, and Pete H...

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HHS RIF Notice Failures: RIF Notice Comes After You’re Locked Out employee rights federal employment hhs layoffs mspb appeals rif notice Jul 15, 2025

For many Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees, July 14 wasn’t just another Monday—it was the moment they found out they’d already been separated. At 5:00 PM, emails titled “Importan...

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Navigating Increased Office Tracking in Federal Agencies career protection employee rights federal employment mindfulness remote work Apr 29, 2025

Recent reports have surfaced indicating increased scrutiny and monitoring of federal employees' office attendance and remote work habits. According to CBS News, a leaked memo from the previous adminis...

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Mindful Response to Sudden Return-to-Office Orders dhs employee rights federal employment mindfulness return to office Apr 28, 2025

Imagine relaxing on a Sunday evening, only to receive a text at 9:00 PM demanding you report to your duty station Monday morning—or risk losing your leave. This is not hypothetical. It's the reality s...

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Were You a Probationary Federal Employee Let Go in February? Here’s What You Need to Know. employee rights federal court updates federal employment mindfulness probationary period Apr 22, 2025

If you were one of the many probationary federal employees dismissed this past February, your situation may feel uncertain, disorienting—even unfair. Recent courtroom developments, however, offer a gl...

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When “Five Wins” Becomes a Trap: How to Protect Your Federal Career disciplinary defense employee rights federal employment mindfulness workplace wellness Apr 21, 2025

If you’re a federal employee facing pressure to report weekly accomplishments—or “five wins”—you’re not alone. In recent weeks, agencies from the EPA to NIH have been quietly scaling back these expect...

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When Inclusion Becomes a Risk: Mindfulness for the New Federal Landscape dei in government employee rights federal employment mindfulness workplace stress Apr 18, 2025

If you're feeling shaken by the latest federal mandate to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, you're not alone. Recent orders require agencies to erase DEI initiatives—and some ...

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