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Top Three News Stories:

1. House Democrats Scrutinize VA Non-Disclosure Agreements Tied to an 80,000-Position Downsizing

Reporting on May 13 reveals that the House Oversight Committee’s senior Democrat, Rep. Gerry Connolly, has demanded copies of the NDAs Veterans Affairs managers required from senior staff who were developing a massive workforce-reduction plan. Lawmakers say the agreements appear to bar employees from talking with Congress, inspectors general or the Office of Special Counsel about the cuts. Connolly’s letter gives VA until May 26 to turn over the documents and to explain whether the NDAs contained the legally required “anti-gag” language. The department has not yet responded.  Government Executive

Legal Insight:

From a legal-policy perspective, the episode underscores the tension between executive branch secrecy and long-standing whistle-blower protections found in 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8) and annual “anti-gag” appropriations riders. Observers note that NDAs written without those carve-outs are generally unenforceable and can draw congressional ire as well as litigation. The inquiry also reminds agencies that congressional oversight can compel disclosure of workforce-reduction planning, potentially influencing how future RIFs are structured.

2. OPM Orders All Agencies to Submit Retirement Packages Electronically by Early June

A Federal News Network story dated May 13 details guidance from the Office of Personnel Management instructing agencies that use the National Finance Center or Interior Business Center to move every new retirement application into OPM’s Online Retirement Application portal by June 2; paper submissions will be rejected after July 15. Acting Director Charles Ezell said the change is critical to preventing backlogs as many employees consider Voluntary Early Retirement or deferred-resignation options. The fully digital process follows a two-year pilot and is part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s push to modernize legacy, paper-bound systems.  Federal News Network

Legal Insight:

Analysts point out that the accelerated timeline could raise collective-bargaining issues and expose any lingering gaps in agencies’ electronic personnel files. Statutes governing annuity processing still obligate OPM to issue interim payments if delays occur, and questions remain about how older paper records will be scanned in time. The move illustrates how modernization initiatives can intersect with labor relations and benefits law, themes likely to surface in future oversight hearings.

3. HHS Rescinds RIF Notices for More Than 100 NIOSH Employees Ahead of Congressional Hearing

POLITICO reported on May 13 that the Health and Human Services Department revoked layoff notices for scores of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health workers in Morgantown, West Virginia and Cincinnati, just one day before Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first testimony to Congress. The reinstatements follow a federal judge’s ruling that earlier, wide-ranging RIFs were likely unconstitutional and amid mounting pressure from unions and lawmakers concerned about miner and firefighter health programs. Kennedy still plans to defend broader workforce cuts as part of an efficiency campaign. Politico

Legal Insight:

Legal observers say the reversal highlights the limits of agency RIF authority when statutory health-and-safety mandates are at stake and while court injunctions are pending. It also underscores how union litigation and congressional oversight can quickly alter reduction-in-force strategies. Future hearings may probe whether HHS complied with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act and other program-specific laws when issuing the original RIF notices.

Mindful Moment of the Day: 

Digital Sunset Ritual

Ten minutes before logging off, dim the monitor brightness, silence notifications, and spend the final stretch organizing your digital workspace as tomorrow’s act of self-kindness. Drag stray files into folders, close tabs you won’t need, leave a brief note to your morning self about the first task to tackle. The ritual mimics natural sunset cues that signal animals to wind down; your circadian rhythm follows suit, easing the brain out of hyper-vigilance. Practitioners often find that evening tension drops and next-day ramp-up is 30% faster—a dividend compounded over fiscal quarters.