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 RIF Case: What Two Bipartisan Briefs Reveal federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals rif supreme court case separation of powers Jun 10, 2025

While federal employees await the Supreme Court’s decision on the nationwide RIF injunction, two strikingly aligned amicus briefs have emerged—one from Reagan-Bush era conservatives and another from a...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Where Do RIF Layoffs Stand Today? federal employee rights federal employment mspb appeals rif layoffs supreme court Jun 04, 2025

If you've received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice recently, you're not alone—and you're not without recourse. A federal judge in California issued a preliminary injunction against the administratio...

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RIF Layoffs Still Frozen—What the Court's Ruling Means for You federal employee rights federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals rif layoffs Jun 03, 2025

Late last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to lift the injunction blocking government-wide reductions in force (RIFs) that stem from a recent Executive Order. For now, that means any ...

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House Bill Targets FERS Annuity Supplement and Adds New Filing Fees federal employment fers annuity supplement mindfulness at work mspb appeals retirement planning May 29, 2025

What Survived the House Vote—And Why It Matters

Last week the House advanced the “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” stripping out two headline-grabbing ideas—the move from a high-3 to a high-5 pension calcula...

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Nationwide RIF Injunction: Why the Ninth Circuit Decision Matters federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals ninth circuit reduction in force May 28, 2025

Federal employees across 21 agencies—including the VA, IRS, and Department of Education—are holding their breath this week. A nationwide injunction blocking a massive Reduction in Force (RIF) plan is ...

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Targeted Restructuring in the Federal Workforce: black federal employees discrimination federal employment mspb appeals workforce restructuring May 23, 2025

For decades, the federal government has offered Black professionals a rare foundation of career stability, growth, and retirement security. Today, that legacy is under threat. Deep within the bureaucr...

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A Federal RIF Freeze: What the Latest Court Ruling Means constitutional law federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals reduction in force May 22, 2025

Federal employees, especially those recently impacted by Reduction in Force (RIF) notices, received a powerful message this week: the law still protects your job. In a pivotal hearing, Judge Susan Ill...

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How to Appeal a Federal RIF to the MSPB federal employee rights federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals rif May 22, 2025

If you’ve received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice, you’re likely navigating shock, anxiety, and an avalanche of questions. As a federal employee, the stakes are high—your pension, health benefits, ...

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