Brought to you by Southworth PC—Attorneys for Federal Employees

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. Federal Employees are Reporting Major Workplace Disruptions at Nearly Triple the National Average

New Gallup data show 29% of feds say their workplace is disrupted “to a very large extent,” nearly three times the rate for U.S. workers; engagement among feds has fallen to 28% this year. Concern about layoffs is also higher among federal employees (24% vs. 11% nationally), alongside spikes in stress and loneliness. The article ties the turbulence to hiring freezes, RIF threats, telework shifts and other overhauls in 2025. For federal employees, this means expect continued instability and be proactive about documenting workload changes, deadlines, and health or safety concerns. Federal News Network

Legal Insight:

Keep key communications in writing (changes to duties, schedules, telework, performance plans). If stress, health, or caregiving issues affect work, ask—in writing—about leave flexibilities, episodic telework, or reasonable accommodation. Use EAP and report unsafe conditions promptly. If a change looks retaliatory or discriminatory, preserve evidence and talk with your union; consider consulting counsel to protect short deadlines.

2. Unions Sue Over ‘Loyalty Question’ for Federal Jobseekers

AFGE, AFSCME and NAGE filed suit to block OPM’s “merit hiring plan” essay asking applicants which Trump executive orders or policy initiatives they would help implement, arguing it functions as a political loyalty test. Plaintiffs say OPM’s later guidance making essays “voluntary” is contradicted by training materials indicating responses will still be reviewed by leaders. The complaint alleges First Amendment and APA violations and cites use of the essays across thousands of postings. For federal employees and applicants, this means hiring processes may change again pending the court’s decision; save screenshots and communications for any announcements you apply to. Government Executive

Legal Insight:

If you encounter politicized questions, answer factually about mission execution and job competencies; avoid partisan advocacy. Keep copies of vacancy announcements, application materials, and any instructions you received. If you believe a hiring action used political loyalty as a factor, timely raise it with your union or counsel; legal timelines (EEO, OSC, or other avenues) are short. Watch for court orders that could alter or suspend the practice.

3. CBO Systems Accessed in ‘Security Incident’ Possibly Tied to Foreign Hackers

The Congressional Budget Office reported a network breach and said it contained the incident, added new monitoring, and continues work for Congress; Hill staffers and the House Homeland Security chair acknowledged the hack. Reporting notes a possible foreign nexus and that sensitive budget analyses and projections could be attractive targets. Agencies and committees are coordinating with CISA as the investigation proceeds. For federal employees, this means to expect stricter cyber hygiene requirements, phishing drills, and urgent patching or MFA actions—even if your agency was not directly affected. Nextgov

Legal Insight:  

Follow your incident notices to the letter: complete required training, change passwords, and report suspicious emails. If you handle PII or sensitive budget/program data, document containment steps and avoid using personal devices or accounts. System owners should record compliance with any emergency directives and deadlines. If instructions conflict or seem unsafe, escalate in writing and consider seeking counsel.

Mindful Moment of the Day: 

Gratitude Tally at Dusk 

Just before shutting down the laptop, take out a physical notecard and capture three moments from the day that made the mission feel worthwhile—a colleague’s timely data pull, a client’s sigh of relief, a personal skill stretched a bit farther. Writing by hand slows thought enough for appreciation to register somatically; the brain then files the day as “success” rather than “threat.” Over weeks, this simple tally recalibrates the default lens through which policy turbulence and shifting directives are viewed, cultivating durable optimism without denial.