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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. Feds Told Shutdown Furloughs Extended to Late November

Multiple agencies (Commerce, GSA, Interior, Army, NASA, CISA) issued new 30-day furlough letters extending non-pay, non-duty status into late November. Several letters either removed or avoided any guarantee of retroactive pay, reflecting OMB’s contested stance that Congress must explicitly appropriate it. Some components required employees to acknowledge receipt of the letters. For federal employees, this means your furlough may now run through late November and you should treat back pay as uncertain until there’s a signed law or formal agency guidance. Federal News Network

Legal Insight:

Keep copies of all furlough notices and acknowledgements, and follow any instructions or deadlines they contain. If you apply for state unemployment, retain records—some states require repayment if you later receive back pay. Do not perform government work unless formally recalled. If guidance conflicts (e.g., different letters say different things), ask HR to confirm in writing and consider consulting counsel to protect timelines.

2. Trump Administration Blocked from Cutting Off SNAP Benefits as Two Judges Issue Orders

Separate federal court orders in Rhode Island and Massachusetts temporarily halted administration plans to stop November SNAP payments during the shutdown. One order granted a TRO requiring USDA to continue benefits; another found the government’s legal theory “erroneous” and demanded a response on restoring at least partial funding. The rulings reduce immediate risk of a benefits cliff while litigation proceeds. For federal employees, this means families relying on SNAP may see near-term continuity, but final outcomes depend on further court action—monitor agency updates and court developments. Government Executive

Legal Insight: 

Court orders can change quickly; get any benefits guidance in writing and keep records of communications and payments. If you face a denial or interruption despite an order, escalate with documentation to your agency benefits office and state administrators. Where rights or timelines are unclear, consider consulting counsel or your union.

3. Top CISA Official Exits for TSA Role Amid Recent Cyber Office Reductions

A senior CISA leader moved to TSA as CISA’s Stakeholder Engagement and parts of Infrastructure Security underwent significant staff reductions and reassignments. The move highlights broader DHS reshuffling during the shutdown and a continuing contraction of civilian cyber capacity. Reporting points to prior terminations and MDRs across CISA divisions. For federal employees, this means cyber teams should expect changes in duties, vacancies, and reporting chains, with possible mission impacts. Nextgov

Legal Insight:  

If you’re reassigned or offered a move, request written details (series/grade/step, duties, location, reporting chain, relocation benefits) before deciding. For separations or RIFs, obtain your retention data and calendar deadlines for bump/retreat, priority placement, and MSPB/EEO options. Preserve all notices and escalate uncertainties in writing; if retaliation or procedural errors are suspected, consult your union and consider seeking legal advice.

Mindful Moment of the Day: 

Five-Second Soft-Smile Reset 

When tension knots the brow during an intense discovery review, let the corners of your mouth lift just two millimeters—enough to register as a “soft smile,” not forced cheer. Pair it with a gentle exhale through the nose. This micro-expression engages the brain’s mirror-neuron network, which in turn lowers heart rate and subtly invites calmer tones from colleagues who see you on video or in the bullpen. Neuroscientists have found that such brief facial shifts can drop perceived stress levels by nearly one-third, recalibrating emotional climate without a word spoken.