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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. Uncertainty Over Back Pay, RIFs Deepening Apprehension for Federal Employees Under Shutdown

A large FNN reader survey finds most feds say this shutdown feels different—mainly because of threatened RIFs and confusion over whether furloughed employees are guaranteed back pay. Respondents report rising financial strain and morale issues as missed checks mount and guidance varies by agency. The piece notes the legal debate around the 2019 back-pay law and the practical impacts of prolonged furloughs and excepted duty. For federal employees, this means you should plan finances assuming delayed pay and closely track official HR/payroll notices while litigation and policy disputes play out. Federal News Network

Legal Insight:

Keep copies of every notice, timecard, and email; log hours if you are excepted and working. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 generally guarantees retroactive pay after a lapse, but disputed interpretations and ongoing cases mean you should preserve a clear record and meet all deadlines. If you get conflicting instructions (e.g., about leave use or AWOL), respond in writing and elevate through HR and your union. When pay rights or RIF exposure are unclear, consider consulting counsel quickly due to short timelines.

2. Upcoming White House Cyber Strategy to Seek More Involvement with Private Sector

The National Cyber Director said the administration’s forthcoming national cyber strategy will emphasize partnering with industry and avoid an overly prescriptive, regulation-heavy approach. Drafting is in progress, with outreach to agencies and vendors as officials seek “resiliency” and faster modernization. The shift signals potential adjustments in how agencies coordinate with contractors and share threat information. For federal employees, this means cyber, IT, acquisition, and privacy teams should anticipate guidance that could change reporting, vendor engagement, and program priorities. Nextgov

Legal Insight: 

When the strategy and any implementing directives land, follow the written requirements (e.g., new reporting, ATO updates, records/retention rules) and document compliance. If you manage contracts, check whether clauses or deliverables need updates to reflect data-sharing or security controls. Raise scope or exception questions in writing early to avoid missed deadlines or audit risk. For ambiguity or conflicting instructions, coordinate with counsel and your security/privacy officers.

3. USDA Transfers $13B into ‘Slush Fund’ for Future Tariff Relief

GovExec reports USDA shifted $13B from the Commodity Credit Corporation into a new program account, drawing Hill scrutiny and causing some farm-program operations to slow during the shutdown. Internal emails cited in the story show the move complicated funding for routine CCC-backed activities, prompting partial claw-backs to recall some staff and keep limited services running. The department says the transfer supports future farmer relief; critics warn it bypassed normal notifications. For federal employees, this means USDA teams (and partners) may see shifting furlough/recall statuses and program delays while funding is reshuffled, so watch for updated written instructions. Government Executive

Legal Insight:  

Do not obligate funds or perform unfunded work; ask management to confirm funding source and authority in writing for any assignment. If you are recalled, follow the recall memo precisely (duty station, timekeeping codes) and keep records for pay reconciliation. If shutdown-driven changes trigger furloughs or RIF actions, verify your rights and deadlines (and union processes) immediately. Escalate unusual funding directions promptly; Antideficiency Act exposure is a real risk.

Mindful Moment of the Day: 

Posture Recalibration Loop 

The next time you catch yourself hunched over grant-review paperwork, or something similar, pause long enough to let your spine “grow” upward as if pulled by a string at the crown of your head. Let the shoulders melt down and slightly back, then place one palm on your lower ribs to feel a full diaphragmatic inhale. Research from occupational-health studies shows that spinal realignment for even twenty seconds boosts oxygen saturation and reduces midday fatigue by up to 17 percent—far more than a glance at social media. Closing the brief loop with a slow exhale cues the vagus nerve to switch from fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest, sharpening the executive function you’ll need for the next policy memo.