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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. Appeals Court May Rehear Case on Trump’s Federal Anti-Union Order

A Ninth Circuit panel said the full court will vote on whether to rehear the case over President Trump’s order limiting federal-sector collective bargaining. The earlier ruling let agencies implement the edict while lawsuits continue; since then, multiple departments have canceled union contracts after OPM tweaked its guidance. Both sides must file briefs by September 15 on whether to go en banc. The outcome will shape whether agencies keep unwinding contracts during the litigation. Government Executive

Legal Insight: 

“Rehearing” means the current rules stay in place for now. If your contract was canceled, you still have statutory rights (EEO, OSC, MSPB) with short deadlines—save all notices. Ask HR for the interim procedures in writing and keep copies of anything you file. Do not rely on rumor; watch for official updates from your agency and union.

2. State Department Laid Off Employees—Then Promoted Some of  Them

After July layoff notices to 1,350 State Department employees (including 264 Foreign Service officers), at least 10 of those affected were subsequently approved for promotion. They remain on paid administrative leave through November 8 and will separate at a higher grade if the promotions are finalized. The department says the cuts target non-core functions; the union says the mixed signals are demoralizing. New “fidelity” criteria for future reviews will begin in the next cycle. Government Executive

Legal Insight:  

If you have both a RIF notice and a promotion, keep every document (RIF, promotion, leave status). Ask HR—in writing—how the promotion affects pay, severance, and priority placement. Track appeal and grievance timelines even if you’re on leave. Documentation of your promotion can matter for later placement or disputes.

3. FEMA Places Some Dissent-Letter Signers on Administrative Leave

After more than 180 current and former FEMA staff signed a public letter warning of weakened disaster response, at least two signers received notices placing them on paid, indefinite administrative leave with daily check-in requirements. The letter criticized spending approval limits and reassignments, and urged Congress to act. FEMA said reforms aim to get funds to communities and declined to say how many staff were affected. Similar dissent efforts have appeared at other agencies. Federal News Network

Legal Insight:

Speaking up can be protected, but use approved channels (IG, OSC, Congress, or management) and keep a clean paper trail. If you’re put on leave, follow the instructions exactly and save the notice, emails, and any check-in logs. Retaliation claims turn on timelines and documents—write down who told you what and when. If you’re unsure, talk to counsel early.

Mindful Moment of the Day: 

The Hydration Bell  

Every time you drink water today, take a few seconds to really notice the sensation. The coolness, the pause, the refreshment. This ‘habit stacking’—linking a mindfulness moment to something you already do—turns the ordinary into an opportunity for grounding. It’s a subtle way to keep your attention tethered to the present throughout the workday.