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Our online community now tops 150,000 federal workers and supporters across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Each briefing distills the day’s most consequential developments, adds clear-eyed legal analysis, and pairs it with mindfulness tools that keep you steady no matter how turbulent the news cycle becomes. If this newsletter helps you stay informed, please pass it on: https://fedlegalhelp.com/newsletter. Your advocacy broadens the protective circle for every federal employee.

Top Three News Stories:

1. Court Clears the Way for Mass Layoffs at the CFPB

A divided D.C. Circuit panel ruled on August 15 that the administration may resume mass firings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, overturning a lower-court block and saying the dispute belongs in civil-service channels. The decision covers a plan that could cut about 90% of the bureau’s staff and reorganize what work remains. The ruling is not yet final; opponents can ask the full court to review it, but the path to quick relief narrowed. Agencies and unions across government are watching closely because the reasoning may influence other downsizing fights. Reuters

Legal Insight: 

A court’s go-ahead does not waive the government’s RIF rules: employees still get written notice, correct retention rankings, and the right to challenge errors. Many actions at an independent agency also trigger special notices (e.g., to Congress or IGs), which can shape timing. If your office is affected, save the notice, your retention standing, and recent performance ratings; those documents are key in any appeal or complaint.

2. OPM Cancels the 2025 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey

OPM said on August 15 it will not conduct this year’s FEVS after months of delay. The agency cited competing priorities and workforce changes, and said it plans to reassess how and when to collect government-wide morale data. Without the annual data set, it will be harder to compare engagement across agencies and spot problem offices. Some employee groups warned the loss of FEVS removes one of the few consistent measures of culture during a year of major change. Federal News Network

Legal Insight:  

Even without FEVS, agencies still have obligations to manage performance fairly and to address harassment and retaliation. Keep copies of your performance plan and any climate or pulse survey prompts you receive; those can show how expectations and conditions changed over time. If your office substitutes an internal survey, check whether answers are anonymous and how results will be used.

3. Lawmakers Say IG Offices are Being “Starved,” Hampering Oversight

A House oversight letter on August 15 said some inspectors general have lost 20%–30% of their staff this year, hurting audits and investigations. Members asked several IGs to detail how cuts are affecting fraud detection, whistleblower reviews, and major program audits. The letter follows reports that some oversight projects were paused due to hiring freezes and vacancies. The push signals more scrutiny of how agencies are spending capped oversight budgets. Government Executive

Legal Insight:

IGs retain subpoena and audit powers regardless of staffing levels, and agencies must preserve records and cooperate. If you receive an IG request, follow written instructions and keep your own copies of materials you provide. Employees who report waste, fraud, abuse, or dangers to health or safety through approved channels are protected from retaliation; saving emails and request letters helps prove protected activity.

Mindful Moment of the Day: 

Mindful Listening in Counseling Sessions    

Whether you’re an EAP counselor or a supervisor handling a distressed employee, anchor yourself first: feel both feet, breathe once into the belly, and silently note “here.” As the speaker unloads, keep 10 % of awareness on the subtle rise and fall of your own chest—this dual focus is proven to reduce empathic burnout by giving emotions a buffer zone. When your limbic system stays calm, mirror neurons fire more accurately, allowing you to detect real needs beneath the surface narrative. Paradoxically, the more you attend to your own breath, the safer and better heard the other person feels—turning a routine check-in into a trust-building moment that pays dividends across the whole team.