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.

 
Forced LWOP During Shutdown Work — Know Your Rights federal employment government shutdown lwop pay rights whistleblower protection Oct 30, 2025

Some federal employees are being told to keep working during the shutdown but record those hours as leave without pay (LWOP). That directive is not lawful. If you’re required to work, you are “excepte...

Continue Reading...
 
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 ...

Continue Reading...
 
Senate Report Flags DOGE Data Security Risks data security doge federal employment ssa whistleblower protection Sep 26, 2025

A new Senate investigation alleges that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been operating outside federal law, exposing sensitive federal data to heightened risk. Whistleblowers from t...

Continue Reading...
 
CDC Vaccine Expert Resigns Over Politics in Science cdc resignation federal employment mindfulness at work vaccine policy whistleblower protection Aug 29, 2025

The resignation of Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, one of the nation’s leading vaccine experts, is not just another D.C. headline. His departure signals something far more personal: federal science profession...

Continue Reading...
 
CDC Leadership Crisis and Federal Governance Breakdown agency instability cdc leadership federal employment mindfulness at work whistleblower protection Aug 29, 2025

The attempted removal of CDC Director Susan Monarez highlights a critical legal issue: under federal law, only the President—not agency heads or political appointees—can dismiss a Senate-confirmed off...

Continue Reading...
 
Who Runs the CDC: Science or Politics? cdc leadership federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals whistleblower protection Aug 28, 2025

On August 27, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that Susan Monarez was “no longer director” of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Within hours, her attorneys cou...

Continue Reading...
 
Common Mistakes Whistleblowers Make — and How Attorneys Prevent Them federal employment mindfulness at work mspb appeals osc complaints whistleblower protection Aug 27, 2025

Federal employees who blow the whistle often step onto legal ground that feels both urgent and unstable. Many try to navigate the process alone, only to find themselves boxed in by deadlines, technica...

Continue Reading...
 
FEMA Retaliation Concerns: What Federal Whistleblowers Need to Know federal employment fema employees mspb appeals retaliation cases whistleblower protection Aug 27, 2025

On August 26, 2025, more than a dozen FEMA employees were placed on paid administrative leave just hours after signing a public letter criticizing leadership decisions. The letter, endorsed by roughly...

Continue Reading...
 
When Nepotism Becomes a Career-Ending Mistake conflict of interest federal employment mspb appeals nepotism law whistleblower protection Jul 24, 2025

The recent ousting of NIH’s Chief Operating Officer, Eric Schnabel, is more than office gossip—it’s a legal and career cautionary tale for federal employees across agencies. Schnabel allegedly steered...

Continue Reading...
 
Trump’s OSC Nominee Raises Alarms for Federal Employee Protections civil service rights ethics in government federal employment osc nominee whistleblower protection Jul 23, 2025

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 whistleblower protectio...

Continue Reading...
 
How Federal Employees Can Protect Themselves After the Reporter Shield Rollback federal employee rights federal employment mindfulness reporter shield rollback whistleblower protection Apr 28, 2025

A significant shift just happened that every mindful federal employee must understand: Attorney General Pam Bondi voided the 2021 Reporter Shield rule. From today on, prosecutors can subpoena journali...

Continue Reading...
 
Whistleblower Safety Under Threat: What Feds Must Know federal employment mindfulness osha investigations whistleblower protection worker safety Apr 11, 2025

If you work in a federal agency or care about worker safety, now is the time to pay attention. Over 50 active OSHA investigations are currently underway into Elon Musk’s companies—Tesla, SpaceX, and T...

Continue Reading...
1 2
THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE BRIEFING

Your Trusted Guide in Uncertain Times

Stay informed, stay protected. The Federal Employee Briefing delivers expert insights on workforce policies, legal battles, RTO mandates, and union updates—so you’re never caught off guard. With job security, telework, and agency shifts constantly evolving, we provide clear, concise analysis on what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can do next.

📩 Get the latest updates straight to your inbox—because your career depends on it.

You're safe with me. I'll never spam you or sell your contact info.