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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. Supreme Court Lets Education Department Slash One-Third of Its Workforce

The Court, in a 6-3 shadow-docket decision on July 14, lifted a lower-court order and allowed President Trump and Secretary Linda McMahon to proceed with eliminating about 1,400 of the department’s 4,100 positions. The majority offered no opinion, while the three liberal justices dissented, warning the move could gut Congressionally mandated programs. The administration says the cuts are phase one of a broader plan to “return education authority to the states.” Washington Post

Legal Insight: 

A formal RIF still triggers 5 C.F.R. Part 351: 60-day written notice, retention registers (tenure, veterans’ preference, performance), and eligibility for Priority Placement and ICTAP. Employees offered Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments waive most MSPB rights—request annuity and TSP estimates before signing. Because the department was created by statute, Congress could bar further reductions by conditioning FY 26 appropriations; staff should watch for rider language and keep copies of every notice for possible retroactive relief if lawmakers intervene.

2. HHS Executes First Wave of 10,000 RIF Separations After Court Green-Light

An internal email confirmed that all employees who received April 1 RIF notices are now off the rolls as of July 14. Another 10,000 left under buyout incentives, leaving the agency on track to shed roughly 25 % of its workforce. Terminations exclude workers still protected by Judge Melissa DuBose’s injunction covering CDC, FDA’s tobacco center, Head Start and ASPE. A class action in D.C. alleges HHS relied on “error-ridden” data when selecting employees for separation. CNN

Legal Insight:

Those separated on July 14 have 30 days to file an MSPB appeal; cite any flawed performance records or misapplied veterans’ points. If you fall under the Rhode Island injunction area and still received a separation notice, contact your union or counsel immediately—the order remains in force. Employees reinstated after earlier errors must receive continuous service credit toward FERS and leave accrual. Keep all SF-50s; they are essential to back-pay claims if an action succeeds.

3. Senators Grill SSA Over Involuntary Reassignment of 1,000 Field-Office Staff

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden demanded data after SSA moved 1,000 customer-service reps from field offices to the 1-800 line with little notice. The July 14 letter questions whether the shift masks deteriorating service and hides long phone wait-times the agency recently stopped publishing. Unions say the move undercuts already thin in-person staffing and foreshadows a 7,000-employee head-count reduction. Government Executive

Legal Insight:

Reassigning career employees across competitive levels without their consent can violate 5 C.F.R. § 351.201 if done to dodge RIF procedures; affected staff can file a negotiated grievance or OSC prohibited-practice complaint. Field workers forced into phone duty may claim out-of-scope duties and seek classification review under § 5112. Removal of public performance metrics could implicate the DATA Act; whistle-blower disclosures about service degradation are protected under 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8). Document any changes to duties, location or performance standards to preserve potential claims.

Mindful Moment of the Day: 

 Appreciation Email      

Take 2 minutes to send a brief, sincere thank-you email to a colleague today. Mention something specific: their clear writing, quick help, or good humor. Giving appreciation activates dopamine in your own brain, boosting mood and encouraging pro-social behavior. It’s also contagious—meaning your small gesture could ripple outward and uplift an entire team.