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News for the federal workforce, updated daily.
Pay raises, retirement planning, and benefits — expert guidance for every stage of your federal career, sourced and updated for 2026.
Featured data reports
Data report
OPM Retirement Backlog 2026: The Complete Data Report
Every month of the OPM retirement backlog, Oct 2025-Jul 2026: the 65,237 peak, the fall to 24,784, processing times up 53%, and when the backlog actually clears.
Jul 19, 2026 · 12 min read
Data report
State of Federal Pay 2026: 50 Data Points for Every Fed
Federal employees in San Jose-SF earn 46.34% above base in 2026, the highest of 58 localities. Full data report with 50+ sourced statistics on GS pay.
Apr 17, 2026 · 21 min read
Data report
State of Federal Retirement Readiness 2026: 50 Data Points
Median FERS TSP balance is ~$50K while the average is $217K. OPM backlog hit 65,237. Full data report on federal retirement readiness with sourced stats.
Apr 17, 2026 · 25 min read
Most read
Latest articles
462 articles · page 1 of 20Policy UpdatesNew
Agency HQ Relocations 2026: Agency-by-Agency Tracker
Every 2026 federal HQ move and directed reassignment in one table: USDA hubs, HUD, CFPB, Army Corps NY, the blocked FBI move. Headcounts, deadlines, decline rules.
RetirementNew
Congressional Inquiry: How to Unstick OPM, DFAS, or the VA
A congressional inquiry puts a person and a deadline on a stalled OPM, DFAS, or VA case. What it can and cannot do, how to file, and agency response windows.
Pay & CompensationNew
The County-Line Locality Pay Cliff: $39,391 Apart in 2026
Locality pay is set by county. We computed 14 real adjacent-county pairs where crossing one line changes a GS salary by $4,470 to $39,391. Full table inside.
CareerNew
DD-214 Correction: Fix Missing Deployments and Awards
DD-214 correction guide: which form fixes a missing deployment or award, where it goes, the 3-year and 15-year clocks, and what a wrong record costs a fed.
Policy UpdatesNew
FY2027 Appraisal Cycle Starts Oct 1 Without a Level 2 Rating
The FY2027 appraisal cycle opens Oct 1 with no Level 2 rating. The three deadlines (Sept 20, Oct 1, Jan 1) and what to check by Oct 31.
TSPNew
MRA+30 at 57: Sequence of Returns Risk in the TSP, Computed
Sequence of returns risk, computed: the same $600,000 TSP at MRA+30 lands between $362,335 and $695,605 at 66 depending only on which five years came first.
TSPNew
TSP Pro-Rata Withdrawals Break the Bucket Strategy: The Fix
The TSP pro rata withdrawal rule takes every distribution from all your funds. What you can choose, the interfund-transfer fix, and what a bad year costs.
BenefitsNew
Use-or-Lose Leave 2026: The November 28 Deadline Feds Miss
Use-or-lose annual leave must be scheduled in writing by November 28, 2026 to be restorable. The pay-period math, the 240-hour cap, and what forfeited hours cost.
CareerNew
DOL Leaked 3,150 Employees' Accommodation Data: Your Rights
A DOL employee emailed 3,150 coworkers' disability-accommodation records to a personal account. What leaked, your Privacy Act and EEO remedies, the 45-day clock
CareerNew
EEOC Comment Deadline Sept 28: What's in the EEO Rewrite
EEOC proposed rule comment deadline: September 28, 2026. The Part 1614 rewrite ends counseling, AJ hearings, and class complaints. Every change, how to comment.
Pay & CompensationNew
FY2027 Per Diem Rates Are Out: $113 Lodging, $68 M&IE
GSA posted FY2027 per diem rates on Sept 3, 2026: standard CONUS lodging rises from $110 to $113, M&IE stays $68, effective Oct 1. What to do now.
Pay & CompensationNew
Who Gets the 3.8% LEO Raise? Your 1811 Series Isn't Enough
Who qualifies for the 3.8% law enforcement raise in 2027? In 2026 OPM named agencies, not job series, and no OIG 1811s made the list. Precedent, math, date.
RetirementNew
2027 Pay Freeze and Your High-3: What 3 Frozen Years Cost
One frozen year trims a GS-13's High-3 by $1,636; three cost $10,020, or $3,006 a year in pension for life. Computed tables, what counts as basic pay, the.
RetirementNew
Peace Corps Service Counts Toward FERS: The $333 Deposit
Peace Corps and VISTA time counts toward FERS eligibility and annuity only if you pay a 3% deposit. A standard 27-month tour costs about $333 and pays back in two months.
TSPNew
TSP Fund Returns August 2026: All 16 Green, I Fund Leads
TSP fund returns August 2026: all 16 funds gained. I Fund +3.32%, C +2.72%, S +2.27%. Every fund ranked, $100K-on-Jan-1 values, six L Funds beating the C Fund.
CareerNew
VEOA Ruling: Veteran Feds Can Now Compete for Promotions
VEOA rights for current federal employees: the Federal Circuit overruled Kerner, so a veteran already in government can compete for jobs open to outsiders.
Policy UpdatesNew
OPM Civil Service Rules Change: Comment Deadline September 14
OPM's direct final rule rewrites the Civil Service Rules October 13 unless adverse comments land by September 14. What changes, and how to comment.
Policy UpdatesNew
DRP Report Card: 20,557 Backfills, Hired 1.4 Grades Lower
Agencies paid $15B for feds to leave under the DRP, then refilled 20,557 of those jobs at lower grades. The dollar math on what the backfill actually saves.
Pay & CompensationNew
Federal Pay Period Calendar 2026-2027: Every Date That Matters
All 26 pay periods for the 2026 and 2027 leave years, payday rules by payroll provider, use-or-lose deadlines, and the 26-vs-27 pay period answer.
RetirementNew
How Much Cash You Need Before Retiring Under FERS
OPM interim payments run 60-80% of your annuity and exclude the FERS Supplement entirely. Here are the dollar targets for your pre-retirement cash buffer.
CareerNew
How to File a Federal EEO Complaint Before the Rules Change
Every step and deadline of the federal EEO complaint process in force today, plus exactly what EEOC's proposed rewrite would strip, from the NPRM text.
Policy UpdatesNew
Law Enforcement Pay Raise 2027: Who Gets 3.8%, Who Doesn't
The 2027 law enforcement pay raise gives covered officers 3.8% while GS pay freezes. Grade-by-grade GL dollars, how OPM named agencies (not grades) in 2026, and who was left out.
Policy UpdatesNew
Critical Position Pay: OPM's New Rule Opens Up to $253,100
OPM's August 26 final rule makes critical position pay easier to get: up to $253,100 as basic pay that counts for FERS and TSP, 800 slots, no appeal rights.
Policy UpdatesNew
EEOC Votes on Rewriting the Federal EEO Process: Tracker
The EEOC voted August 26 on a proposed rewrite of the federal EEO complaint process. What's confirmed, what's only reported, and what still protects you today.
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What we cover
The topics that matter most to federal employees.Policy Updates
Pay raises, OPM guidance, RIFs, and the legislation that reshapes federal employment.
Retirement Planning
FERS guides, High-3 strategy, the supplement, survivor benefits, and real retirement case studies.
TSP Strategies
Data-backed allocation, contribution timing, and withdrawal news for every investing style.
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