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Top Three News Stories:
1. House GOP Plan Targets FERS Benefits and Civil-Service Protections
House Republicans on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted May 1 to fold six sweeping benefit-cutting measures into their budget reconciliation package. The draft would lift every employee’s FERS contribution to 4.4%, replace the “high-3” pension calculation with “high-5,” abolish the FERS annuity supplement for most workers, and impose a $350 fee to file an MSPB appeal. It also forces new hires to choose between at-will status or an extra five-point pension contribution and orders a government-wide audit to purge ineligible FEHB dependents. Although backers claim $50 billion in savings, at least one Republican joined Democrats in warning the proposals may not survive a floor vote. Federal News Network
Legal Insight:
If even part of this package advances, federal employees face an immediate reduction in take-home pay and, for future hires, a dramatic erosion of due-process rights. The MSPB filing fee alone would chill meritorious claims, inviting constitutional challenges under the Petition Clause and equal-protection principles. We advise employees within five years of retirement to model the annuity impact of a high-5 calculation now and to contact lawmakers before the Budget Committee markup. Southworth PC is drafting comment templates and will circulate them once the reconciliation language is published.
2. OPM Shutters Center for Leadership Development, Eliminates Key Training Programs
OPM confirmed on May 1 that it has closed its Center for Leadership Development after an April reduction-in-force, cutting roughly 80 remaining positions. The move follows earlier executive orders that dismantled flagship programs such as the Federal Executive Institute and Presidential Management Fellows. Remaining functions—including USA Learning and the Federal HR Institute—are being “transitioned to other solutions” as part of a broader reorganization. Former officials warn the closures will stunt succession planning and hollow out leadership capacity across government. Federal News Network
Legal Insight:
Employees reached for release in this RIF should receive written notice, retention-register information, and access to priority placement; failure to provide any element is a justiciable MSPB claim. The shuttering of fee-for-service programs may also create breach-of-contract issues for agencies that prepaid for training seats. We urge affected staff to preserve the RIF notice, consult counsel before signing deferred-resignation agreements, and document any informal pressure to resign. Agencies deprived of leadership-development services should scrutinize replacement contracts for FAR compliance and past-performance risk.
3. DOT Unveils Cash Incentives to Curb Air-Traffic-Controller Shortage
The Transportation Department announced May 1 a suite of incentives aimed at closing the FAA’s 3,500-controller staffing gap. Retirement-eligible controllers under age 56 can earn a lump-sum bonus worth 20 % of basic pay for each additional year of service, while academy graduates will receive $5,000 upon completing initial qualifications. The FAA still plans to hire 2,000 trainees this year and is pressing Congress for billions to modernize aging infrastructure after safety incidents linked to understaffing. A House committee has already endorsed $12.5 billion through 2029 as a “down payment” on the overhaul. Business Insider
Legal Insight:
These incentives fall under 5 U.S.C. § 5753 retention authority, meaning acceptance should not affect high-three calculations or CSRS/FERS coverage—but employees must obtain the bonus agreement in writing and verify tax treatment. Controllers who previously filed reasonable-accommodation or overtime grievances should ensure the bonus terms do not waive existing claims. The modernization push strengthens leverage for NATCA and other unions to negotiate workload limits; simultaneous hiring and overtime demands may raise FLSA misclassification issues for certain staff.
Mindful Moment of the Day:
The Transition Reset
Federal workdays pivot rapidly—from a staffing grievance to a cybersecurity briefing to a budget call. Each pivot leaves trace emotions that can cloud the next task. Close your eyes for a single inhalation, silently label the hand-off (“closing grievance, opening cyber briefing”), and picture the previous task sliding into an archive. Exhale with an image of clear space on the mental desktop. Neuroscience research shows that even this five-second transition lowers cognitive drag, allowing the prefrontal cortex to regain the precision required for complex problem-solving.
Legal Tip of the Day:
Audit Your SF-50s and OPF
Few documents carry more quiet power than the Standard Form 50s sitting in your Official Personnel File. An outdated position title, an incorrect service computation date, or an innocuous “conduct” code can undermine promotion eligibility or back-pay calculations years later. Download your e-OPF annually, cross-check every SF-50 for accuracy, and request corrections immediately; agencies must amend errors under 5 C.F.R. § 293.303, and having a clean record is the single cheapest form of litigation insurance.
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Social Media Recap:
Hey Federal Employees! Our newest insights—fresh from social media—are now live on the blog. Check out today’s timely updates and practical tips to confidently navigate your federal employment challenges. Here's what's new:
House Bill Threatens Federal Pensions and Due Process
How Law Day Became a Wake-Up Call for Federal Employees
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