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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. At Some Agencies, Federal Employees Face Tighter Limits on Leave to Vote

Some agencies issued tighter rules for administrative leave to vote, in some cases limiting it to an hour or denying requests where they deem off-hours voting “reasonable.” The White House said current policy allows limited administrative leave to vote but does not cover poll-worker service; advocates say uneven agency policies are confusing employees. OPM’s recent memo template also clarifies that voting leave may be granted only in limited circumstances. For federal employees, this means you should check your agency’s written policy and request any voting leave in advance, citing OPM’s guidance, because practices now vary by component. Federal News Network

Legal Insight:

Ask for decisions in writing and keep copies. Under OPM’s July 30, 2025 guidance template, agencies may grant limited administrative leave for voting but have discretion and must follow their own policies. If your request is denied, you can still use personal leave; if you believe your agency is misapplying policy or retaliating, raise the issue in writing and consider speaking with your union or counsel. Policies can differ across agencies, so rely on your agency’s published rules and OPM guidance.

2. OPM to Pursue ‘Mass Deferment’ of Deadlines for CyberCorps Students

OPM said it will work with NSF to grant a mass deferment of job-placement deadlines for CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service recipients after the shutdown disrupted federal hiring. Without relief, many graduates risk their scholarships converting to loans if they can’t land qualifying government roles within 18 months. OPM also plans guidance encouraging agencies to keep using SFS to fill cyber roles. For federal employees, this means cyber program managers and HR should prep to use SFS flexibilities once government reopens, while impacted students should watch for official deferment instructions. Nextgov

Legal Insight:

If you’re an SFS scholar, keep all offer letters and communications and ask OPM/NSF (in writing) how the deferment will affect your 18-month clock. If your scholarship is at risk of converting to a loan, request an extension or deferment in writing and save responses. Agency hiring officials should document any use of SFS authorities and follow forthcoming OPM guidance. When obligations or timelines are unclear, consider consulting your school’s PI and legal counsel.

3. Federal Employee Loan Applications Surge as Shutdown Continues

Federal credit unions and banks report large spikes in shutdown-related loan requests from feds, outpacing the 2018–2019 lapse. FEEA says its $150 micro-grant program for lower-income feds is paused after heavy demand drained initial funds. Financial institutions describe rising processing backlogs and liquidity challenges as missed paychecks mount. For federal employees, this means apply early for credible assistance, expect processing delays, and line up alternatives like payment plans with creditors and utilities. Federal News Network

Legal Insight:  

Get all loan or hardship terms in writing and beware fees, balloon clauses, or repayment triggers tied to back pay. If furloughed, verify your state unemployment eligibility and keep documentation; if excepted and working, keep precise time-and-attendance records for retro pay. Consider contacting creditors and landlords in writing to request temporary accommodations. If a lender’s practices seem predatory or discriminatory, document it and seek counsel.

Mindful Moment of the Day: 

Green-Dot Gaze

Locate one spot of greenery in your field of view—a potted plant, the tree outside the window, even the green in your agency’s logo—and let your eyes rest there for a full breath cycle. Vision researchers have shown that a ten-second gaze at organic shapes or the color green lowers pupil dilation and allows the sympathetic nervous system to idle down. In practice, auditors and analysts who punctuate long screen sessions with this “green-dot” ritual report fewer headaches and greater accuracy in late-afternoon edits, proving that restoration can happen right at the workstation.