Brought to you by Southworth PC—Attorneys for Federal Employees

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. White House Kills Elon Musk’s “Five Things” Email Mandate

Reuters confirmed the administration has formally rescinded the February directive—devised by then-DOGE chief Elon Musk—that ordered every federal employee to email their top five weekly “wins” or risk being deemed AWOL. OPM Director Scott Kupor said existing performance-tracking tools make the program “redundant and inefficient,” and agencies may delete any standing compliance trackers. Many managers had already stopped enforcing the rule after Musk’s May departure and his public split with the president in June. Reuters

Legal Insight: 

Participation in the “five things” program was never a statutory duty—its cancellation means no adverse action may hinge on missed submissions. Employees disciplined solely for non-compliance can request record correction under 5 C.F.R. § 293.404 or grieve under a negotiated procedure. Supervisors should discard email metrics gathered for the mandate; retaining them as performance data without a new notice could violate the Privacy Act.

2. House Workforce Leader Demands HHS Disclose RIF Impact Data

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), ranking member of the Education & Workforce Committee, sent HHS a letter on Aug. 5 seeking details on how its 10,000-employee reduction is affecting CDC disease-tracking, FDA tobacco regulation and Head Start oversight. Scott asked for vacancy rates, reprogramming actions and contractor spending within 30 days, warning that “opaque downsizing endangers public health.” HHS has so far released only aggregate numbers, citing ongoing litigation. Federal News Network

Legal Insight:  

Congressional requests carry no subpoena power unless backed by a committee vote, but agencies that withhold budget or staffing data risk appropriations riders compelling release. Employees redeployed after the RIF should receive updated position descriptions and locality codes within 30 days; errors can be challenged through classification appeals. Unions may cite Scott’s letter to bolster information requests under 5 U.S.C. § 7114(b)(4) for mission-impact bargaining.

3. Senate Leaders Seek Bipartisan Plan to Avert Oct. 1 Shutdown

After the Senate advanced two of twelve FY-26 spending bills on Aug. 5, Democratic leaders called for an “all-chairs” meeting with House counterparts to draft a short-term continuing resolution. They cited slipping floor time and unresolved fights over workforce caps and Schedule G conversions. Conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus insist any CR must lock in deeper cuts; moderates warn a lapse would disrupt contract awards and furlough tens of thousands just before the fiscal year turns. Government Executive

Legal Insight:

If no CR passes by Oct. 1, agencies must implement shutdown contingency plans filed with OMB: excepted employees work unpaid; non-excepted employees are furloughed. Both groups historically receive retroactive pay only when Congress enacts it. Furloughed employees cannot volunteer to work or check government systems—doing so risks Antideficiency Act violations. Save furlough notices and timesheets; precise records speed back-pay calculations once funding resumes.

Mindful Moment of the Day: 

Self-Compassion After Performance Reviews   

Even a solid “Meets Expectations” can sting when you’ve poured twelve-hour days into case prep. The moment the discussion ends, place a hand over your sternum, breathe in to the phrase “data,” breathe out to “growth,” repeating for four cycles. Psychologist Kristin Neff’s research shows this somatic self-kindness lowers cortisol and restores executive-function speed within minutes—crucial when you must draft rebuttals or set new KPIs the same afternoon. By framing feedback as information, not indictment, you sidestep rumination, preserve professional relationships, and pivot faster toward the improvements that will headline next year’s appraisal.