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Top Three News Stories:

1. State Department Prepared to Press Ahead with Nearly-2,000 Layoffs Despite Nationwide Court Block

Internal sources say reduction-in-force (RIF) notices “are ready to go out on Friday,” even though Judge Susan Illston’s June 13 injunction bars all agencies—including State—from executing any layoffs or reorganizations under President Trump’s workforce-cut order. The department has already persuaded about 1,600 employees to leave via “deferred-resignation” incentives and now plans formal RIFs that would bring total cuts to roughly 1,900—about 18 percent of its U.S. workforce. AFSA and AFGE warn that redefining 800 “competitive areas” in the Foreign Affairs Manual will let management target particular offices and freeze normal rotation cycles. The administration has asked the Supreme Court to set aside Illston’s order, but no ruling has issued. CBS News

Legal Insight:

Until the injunction is lifted, any RIF letter issued would be void and could expose the department to contempt sanctions and full back-pay liability. We might get a ruling allowing then to move forward today. Narrow “competitive areas” can themselves be challenged under 5 U.S.C. § 3503 if they unreasonably restrict bump-and-retreat rights or single out protected groups, depending on the circumstances. Staff forced to separate may also invoke Priority Placement and severance-pay programs. Document every communication and keep personal copies of SF-50s, performance records, and training transcripts in case litigation drags on.

2. FEMA Staffing Cuts Threaten Slower Disaster Response, Former Administrator Warns

Former FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told a House panel that deep workforce reductions at FEMA and partner agencies will “slow down the entire response and delay recovery” as back-to-back crises mount. FEMA has already lost about 2,000 permanent employees—roughly one-third of its pre-2025 strength—while acting leadership struggles to fill critical regional posts. Criswell highlighted the erosion of institutional knowledge and the risk that shortages in search-and-rescue teams, logistics specialists and field coordinators will leave states without federal backup during hurricane season. Government Executive  

Legal Insight:

Under the Stafford Act, FEMA must provide “prompt and effective” assistance when a disaster is declared; chronic understaffing could expose the agency to GAO, IG or congressional investigations for failure to meet statutory duties. Employees reassigned or over-worked because of vacancies should track overtime and hazard-duty hours—they remain entitled to premium pay even in emergencies. If RIFs or involuntary reassignments arise, veterans’ preference and priority consideration rules still apply, and displaced staff may qualify for repromotion rights under 5 C.F.R. § 335.103(c). Whistleblowers who report staffing shortages that endanger public safety are protected from retaliation by the Whistleblower Protection Act and 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8). Keeping contemporaneous notes of workload impacts and safety concerns will strengthen any future OSC or MSPB filing.

3. Social Security Chief Touts Tech Overhaul While Planning to Shed 7,000 Jobs

Commissioner Frank Bisignano told lawmakers he aims to “put the customer first” through aggressive automation even as the Social Security Administration moves to eliminate about 7,000 positions—12 percent of an already lean workforce. SSA has already lost nearly 3,700 employees this year, shuttered several offices and faces persistent rumors of field-office closures; Bisignano insists physical offices will stay but concedes more staff cuts may follow. Lawmakers questioned whether chatbots and online portals can truly replace trained claims representatives, especially for seniors with limited internet access. AP News

Legal Insight:

Large-scale workforce reshaping at SSA must still respect competitive-service RIF rules, veterans’ preference and bargaining obligations with the American Federation of Government Employees. If automation results in adverse actions (downgrades, removals, involuntary reassignments), affected employees retain full appeal rights to the MSPB and may raise “contracting-out” challenges under OMB Circular A-76 if third-party vendors assume inherently governmental duties. Reductions that disproportionately affect older or disabled workers could trigger Age Discrimination in Employment Act or Rehabilitation Act claims, especially if field-office closures impede reasonable accommodation.

Mindful Moment of the Day: 

End-of-Week Reflection and Reset    

At 4:45 p.m. every Friday, open a fresh document and type three quick lines: one concrete win (however small), one challenge you want to learn from, and one intention for Monday. Behavioral-science data from the Army’s Master Resilience Training show that such micro-reflections lower weekend rumination and prime the brain’s default-mode network for creative problem-solving. Close the file, take a single deep breath, and visualize setting the week on a mental shelf—done, documented, and ready for retrieval. You’ll step into the weekend lighter, sleep deeper, and arrive Monday with a roadmap already sketched by your calmer Friday self.