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Top Three News Stories:

1. Fired FEMA Chief Threatened to Quit Weeks Ago

The acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cameron Hamilton, was abruptly dismissed on May 8—just one day after he told House appropriators that abolishing FEMA would not serve the public. Homeland Security officials escorted him from headquarters, and DHS quickly installed David Richardson, an official with no disaster-response background, as the new acting administrator. The shake-up leaves FEMA leaderless three weeks before hurricane season and amid congressional review of its FY 2026 budget. Lawmakers and emergency-management groups warned the firing erodes confidence in the agency’s readiness. Politico

Legal Insight:

Sudden leadership changes at FEMA raise concerns under Presidential Policy Directive 40, which mandates continuity of operations for federal agencies during crises. Although state governors cannot independently invoke 42 U.S.C. § 5170, dysfunction at FEMA could influence major disaster declaration requests and highlight federal readiness gaps. If Cameron Hamilton’s congressional testimony is deemed a protected disclosure under the Whistleblower Protection Act, and he was a career appointee serving in an acting role, his removal could raise legal flags. The installation of a successor with no disaster-response credentials also underscores the importance of the statutory qualification requirements in 6 U.S.C. § 313, which aim to ensure FEMA remains led by experienced professionals—especially in advance of hurricane season. For FEMA staff, now is a good time to document any breakdowns in policy execution that may warrant future review by the Inspector General or GAO.

2. Workday Gets Contract From OPM With No Other Bids

Reuters revealed that the Office of Personnel Management awarded a sole-source, $342 million contract to Workday on May 2 to replace its cloud HR platforms, citing “unusual and compelling urgency” tied to Trump-era workforce restructuring mandates. The move comes after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cut OPM staff who maintained in-house systems and as 260,000 federal positions have been eliminated government-wide. Current and former employees questioned bypassing competition when rivals such as Dayforce expressed interest, noting OPM’s existing systems were already cloud-based. Workday says it is “honored” to modernize federal HR; critics call the process highly irregular. Reuters

Legal Insight:

FAR Part 6.3 permits sole-source contracts only with a written Justification and Approval, which must show that “unusual and compelling urgency” truly precludes competition. Competing vendors or unions with standing may file GAO bid protests within 10 days of learning the basis for the award—especially if comparable vendors like Dayforce were excluded. Since the Workday contract involves payroll and personnel systems, OPM must comply with FISMA and OMB Circular A-130, including privacy impact assessments and continuous monitoring—areas that typically draw heightened inspector general scrutiny during sole-source transitions. Employees should brace for potential payroll or benefits disruptions; documenting any errors may preserve claims under the Back Pay Act.

3. HSA Contribution Limits Will Rise in 2026—Here’s What Federal Employees Need to Know About HDHPs

GovExec reports that the IRS will allow individuals in High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) to contribute up to $4,400 to Health Savings Accounts in 2026 (up $100), while self-plus-one and family caps rise to $8,750 (up $200). HDHPs paired with HSAs remain among the lowest-premium options in the FEHB, though enrollees shoulder higher deductibles—$1,650–$2,000 for self-only and $3,300–$4,000 for families. Preventive care is still free in-network, and plan-funded HSA deposits of $800–$2,400 help offset risk. The article walks through cost transparency challenges and strategies for maximizing the new limits. Government Executive

Legal Insight:

Mindful Moment of the Day: 

Mindful Headline Buffer 

Federal inboxes swell with alerts—budget cuts, court rulings, shifting directives. Before clicking the next urgent headline, take one breath to feel your feet on the floor and silently repeat: “Inform, don’t inflame.” This phrase positions the article as data rather than doom. Neuroscientists note that even a brief reframe keeps the amygdala from hijacking prefrontal reasoning, allowing you to read critically, not catastrophically, and to respond with the level-headed stewardship your stakeholders expect.