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

Birthright Citizenship Case and Federal Rule of Law

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The Supreme Court’s recent oral arguments on birthright citizenship may seem far removed from federal employment. They are not. At its core, the case tests a foundational question:...

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Can Executive Orders Erase Federal Union Rights?

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Federal employees are once again caught in the middle of a high-stakes legal fight over collective bargaining—and this one reaches far beyond any single agency or union. This week,...

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Can an Arbitrator Reject a Presidential Executive Order?

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Federal employees are increasingly being told a stark message: the President signed an executive order, so your bargaining rights are gone. When that message comes from agency lead...

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Can Congress Restore Federal Union Rights in 2025?

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Federal employees across several agencies felt the shift almost immediately this year: bargaining tables went quiet, contracts suddenly felt fragile, and management decisions began...

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Department of Defense vs. Department of War: What the Law Actually Says

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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 Departmen...

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New Executive Order Expands Federal Public-Order Units

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A new executive order is reshaping how federal public safety is managed in Washington, D.C.—and potentially beyond. It creates an inter-agency public-order unit, requires the Park ...

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D.C. Circuit Ruling Threatens Union Rights for Federal Workers

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On July 16, 2025, the D.C. Circuit Court allowed President Trump’s executive order to take effect, redefining more than 30 federal agencies as “national-security” operations. While...

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Supreme Court Ruling on RIFs: What Federal Employees Need to Know

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The Supreme Court issued a ruling in Trump v. AFGE that left many federal employees feeling anxious and confused. Let’s unpack what this decision actually means for you so you can ...

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Two Federal Rulings Halt Trump's Anti-Union Order—For Now

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In a major turn for federal employees, two court rulings have temporarily stalled the Trump administration’s efforts to strip away collective bargaining rights from large portions ...

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Agencies May Sideline Unions After Court Revives Executive Orders

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A recent federal appeals court decision has shaken the foundation of collective bargaining rights for millions of federal employees. On Friday, a split panel of the D.C. Circuit li...

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Federal Judge Signals Possible Block on Trump-Era RIF Orders

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Federal employees facing a potential layoff under a controversial executive order may have just gained a powerful ally: the U.S. Constitution. On May 9, a federal judge in San Fran...

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The Mindful Federal Employee is part of a broader public-education ecosystem from Shaun Southworth, Lydia Taylor, and Southworth PC. Use the resource that fits the question and the moment.

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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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About the people behind the work

Shaun Southworth & Lydia Taylor

Meet the federal employment attorneys behind this public-education work and the podcast Civil Rights for Civil Servants.

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