Attorneys for Federal Employees — Nationwide

Nearly 200,000 federal workers and supporters follow our updates across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Each briefing gives you the three stories that actually matter to your job, plain‑English legal guidance, and one short practice to protect your peace of mind. If it helps you, forward it to a colleague—new readers can subscribe at https://fedlegalhelp.com/newsletter. 

Today at a Glance

• IRS CEO: Filing season targets hit despite a 27% workforce cut, per Bisignano's Senate Finance testimony Wednesday.
• OPM oversight: House Democrats say OPM concealed 100+ Retirement Services departures fueling the 55,681-case backlog.
• FEMA: Court records show DHS set a "cut in half" target before any plan existed to get there.

Top Stories:

1. IRS CEO Touts "Less People, Better Results" After 27% Cut

Source: Federal News Network — April 15, 2026

TL;DR: IRS CEO Frank Bisignano told the Senate Finance Committee the agency processed 134 million returns and issued 80 million refunds after losing more than a quarter of its workforce. Chairman Crapo (R-Idaho) called the season smooth. Ranking Member Wyden (D-Ore.) said customer service has likely declined. Bisignano lowered the phone level-of-service target from 85% to 70%.

For federal employees, this means:

• Remaining IRS staff should expect permanent pressure to deliver pre-cut output.
• Detail assignments pulling HR and IT employees into taxpayer services will likely continue.
• Lowered service targets signal a smaller customer-facing workforce is now the baseline.

Legal Insight:
Under 5 U.S.C. § 3341, details over 120 days require a formal detail record or temporary promotion. Employees detailed outside their position description should request written detail documentation — the paper trail matters if a later RIF or performance action treats the detail work as baseline duties.

2. House Democrats: OPM Hid 100+ Retirement Services Departures

Source: Federal News Network — April 13, 2026

TL;DR: Reps. Walkinshaw, Garcia, Mfume, and Subramanyam sent Director Kupor a follow-up letter Monday. They say OPM's December response omitted 100+ departures from its Retirement Services division — departures flagged by OPM's own IG. The backlog stood at 55,681 cases as of March 31, down from a February peak of 65,237. Average processing: 39 days for digital (ORA) claims, 60 days overall.

For federal employees, this means:

• Expect continued delays on final annuity adjudication.
• Interim annuities (about 80% of full payment) remain the main income bridge and typically arrive within seven days of OPM receiving a complete case.
• Most delay happens before a case reaches OPM — at the agency/payroll stage.

Legal Insight:
Under 5 U.S.C. § 8347 and OPM regulations at 5 C.F.R. parts 831 (CSRS) and 841 (FERS), OPM must adjudicate annuity claims and may pay interim annuities while final adjudication is pending. Separated employees should confirm the agency has certified and transmitted the full retirement package, and escalate stalled cases through their congressional representative's casework office.

3. Court Records: DHS Gave FEMA a "Cut in Half" Target, No Plan

Source: Government Executive — April 13, 2026

TL;DR: New filings in the FEMA union lawsuit show DHS told FEMA leadership to build scenarios — including one cutting roughly half the workforce — before any analysis existed. Senior official Karen Evans testified the plan was sent back to DHS, OMB, and OPM. Work on the full cut plan was paused to implement non-renewal of the CORE workforce. More than 1,000 CORE employees have been separated since late 2024, about 10% of that workforce.

For federal employees, this means:

• CORE and term-limited FEMA staff remain the leading edge of cuts.
• DHS now controls CORE renewal authority — no term employee should assume continuation.
• Non-renewal is being used as a de facto separation tool outside formal RIF procedures.

Legal Insight:
Term-appointment non-renewals generally fall outside MSPB jurisdiction under 5 U.S.C. § 7511, which is why the administration is using non-renewal rather than formal RIFs under 5 U.S.C. §§ 3501–3504. But 6 U.S.C. § 313(c) prohibits DHS from taking actions that "substantially or significantly affect" FEMA's authorities, functions, or capabilities — the core legal theory in the pending union lawsuit.

Mindful Moment of the Day

Steadying Yourself After a Serious Email

Seeing an email from OIG, Internal Affairs, HR, or your chain of command with a vague subject line can send a lightning bolt through your body. Before you click, put both feet flat on the floor, feel where the anxiety shows up—maybe in your stomach or throat—and take ten slow breaths, longer on the exhale. Tell yourself, “Right now I’m just reading words on a screen, not living the whole story my brain is inventing.” Once your body is a notch calmer, you’ll be better able to understand what the email actually says and decide on your next step or who you want to consult. 

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