Changed Out-of-Office Emails Violated Employees’ First Amendment Rights, Judge Rules
A federal judge has ruled that the Education Department violated its furloughed employees’ First Amendment rights by changing their out-of-office …More
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Furloughed or Working Without Pay: The Uneven Toll of the Shutdown
The 2025 lapse in appropriations has produced a patchwork of pain: two broad groups now stand out nationwide—furloughed employees who …More
OMB, OPM Stress Authority of New Appointee-Led Hiring Committees
OMB and OPM have stressed the authority of new “strategic hiring committees,” led by political appointees, that agencies are to …More
Many Signs of Strain but Still No Breakthrough as Shutdown Sets Unwanted Record
Signs of strain on federal employees and the services they provide to the public continue to grow, although there still …More
Threats Against Public Servants Increasing, Especially in ‘Battleground’ States, Analysis Shows
Threats against employees of all levels of government are increasing, and especially so in political “battleground” states that are the …More
Agencies Claim Court Order Doesn’t Block All Shutdown RIFs; Discussions in Congress Underway to Break Deadlock
Several federal agencies have said they consider some of their earlier-announced RIFs, using the shutdown as justification, as outside a …More
Group of House Republicans Backs Union Presence at DoD
A group of 16 House Republicans has urged negotiators on a defense spending bill to retain language in the House-passed …More
TSP Stock Funds Scare Up More Gains in October
Two of the three stock-based TSP funds posted gains above 2 percent in October, with the large company stock C …More
Pentagon Acts to Accelerate Firings of Civilian Employees on Performance Grounds
The Pentagon has acted to accelerate the firing of civilian employees on performance grounds, meanwhile issuing guidance likely to result …More
DoD to Offer Incentives for Employees to Bypass Challenges to Firing
A Pentagon policy memo to encourage management to fire employees on charges of poor performance and to speed up the …More
Court Order Blocking Shutdown RIFs Cites ‘Chaotic’ Situation in Agencies
A federal judge’s order blocking indefinitely RIF notices issued since the start of the partial government shutdown October 1—even if …More
Stress on Employees Grows as Shutdown Nears Record Length
Many of the same signs of growing stress that were seen in the record-long partial government shutdown of late 2018-early …More
Judge Halts Shutdown RIFs, Implementation of Those Already Filed During Lapse
UPDATED: A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction indefinitely blocking the Trump administration from issuing new RIFs or carrying …More
Potential for Agreement on Shutdown Pay Bill, but Nothing Definite
There have been suggestions of a possible compromise—but no definite signs of one yet—on legislation to pay at least some …More
Retirement-Related Interest Rate Set for 2026
The interest rate charged on payments needed to capture credit for service toward federal retirement benefits in certain situations will …More
For High-Investing FERS Employees, It’s Time to Review TSP Investment Rates
This point of the year is a good time for FERS employees who invest in the TSP at high rates …More
January Retirement COLAs Set: 2.8 Percent for CSRS, 2 Percent for FERS
A federal retirement COLA will be paid in January of 2.8 percent for those retired under CSRS and 2 percent …More
Social Security Payroll Tax, Other Figures Rising
Several key figures are increasing for 2026 in the Social Security program affecting both current employees and retirees. For the …More
Bill to Pay Federal Employees Fails to Reach a Vote in Senate; Alternative Bill Introduced
UPDATED: The Senate on Thursday rejected its first opportunity to vote on a bill to immediately pay federal employees working …More
Series of Bills Offered to Address Shutdown’s Impact on Employees
A series of bills has been offered in Congress to ease the impact on employees either furloughed without pay or …More
Will OPM’s New Suitability Rule Weaken Whistleblower Protections?
It is unclear where President Trump stands on Federal whistleblowers. Senator Charles E. Grassley has invited him, as he has …More
Public Starting to Feel Impact of Shutdown, Survey Shows
About half of the public is “already noticing tangible impacts from the federal government shutdown,” a poll by the Partnership …More
Legal Limbo and Dual-Branding Follow $600M Name Change
An executive order signed Sept. 5, 2025—and companion bills in both chambers—has reignited efforts to rename the Department of Defense …More
OSC Nominee Withdraws ahead of Confirmation Hearing After Texts Surfaced
UPDATED: The White House’s nominee to head the Office of Special Counsel, Paul Ingrassia, has withdrawn ahead of a confirmation …More
Court Blocks Shutdown RIFs for Now; OMB Says 10K Could be Fired
A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order against OMB from proceeding with RIFs amid the ongoing government shutdown. …More
Large Share of Federal Workforce about to Experience a Payless Pay Period
A large share of the federal workforce stands to receive no pay in the pay distribution for the biweekly pay …More
Senate Passage of Defense Bill Leaves Union Issue to Conference with House
The Senate has passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (S-2296), leaving to an upcoming conference with the …More
TSP Takes Step toward Upcoming In-Plan Roth Conversions
The TSP has proposed rules to carry out the previously announced authority beginning in calendar year 2026 for investors to …More
MSPB Quorum Reinstated with Confirmation of Second Member
The Senate has confirmed James Woodruff, who among other roles has represented the Air Force in proceedings before the MSPB …More
Financial Impact of Shutdown Starts to Hit Home; WH Threatens No Back Pay
Updated: With the partial shutdown now into its second week with a resolution still not in reach, the pay and …More
