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Federal employee news, read closely.

Pay raises, retirement planning, and benefits — expert guidance for every stage of your federal career, sourced and updated for 2026.

Featured data reports

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

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

State of the Federal Workforce 2026: Smallest Since 1966

The federal workforce fell to 2,028,138 in Feb 2026, the smallest since 1966. 50+ sourced stats on RIFs, DRP cost, pay gap, morale, and telework.

Apr 17, 2026 · 21 min read

Most read

Policy UpdatesUSPS Financial Crisis 2026: What Postal Workers Need to KnowMar 9, 2026 Policy UpdatesNavy Civilian Reduction 2026: 10/15/20% GuideMar 31, 2026 RetirementVERA & VSIP Guide 2026: Take the Buyout?Feb 19, 2026 Policy UpdatesOPM Wants Your Medical Records: What Feds Need to KnowApr 8, 2026 RetirementOPM Retirement Backlog Down 48%, Yet Your Wait Rose to 108 DaysFeb 19, 2026

Latest articles

328 articles · page 1 of 14

6(c) TSP Math: The $718,800 Gap for Federal Firefighters

Federal LEOs, firefighters, and ATCs retire at 47-57 but draw for 40+ years. The 6(c) TSP model: 5% vs 15% contributions is a $718,800 difference.

Policy UpdatesNew

8,218 Left, 106 Hired: The Federal Jobs Not Coming Back

OPM data shows management analysts replaced at 1%, IT at 2%. See which federal occupations aren't being backfilled and what it means for your severance.

Pay & CompensationNew

Federal Uniform Allowance Jumps $800 to $1,500: Who Gets It

OPM raised the federal uniform allowance cap to $1,500 on July 13, 2026, the first increase since 2007. See who qualifies and what to check at your agency.

The Federal Widow's Tax Trap: Less Income, $7,953 More Tax

When a federal retiree dies, the surviving spouse's income drops but their tax bill jumps. The FedTools model shows +$7,953 a year. Here's the math and the fixes.

Why Your FERS Application Is Stuck: A View From the Trenches

OPM's backlog fell 48% while processing time rose to 108 days. The nine things that actually stall FERS applications, from the people who process them.

Policy UpdatesNew

FEVS Is Being Dismantled: How to Comment Before August 3

OPM's proposed rule decentralizes the FEVS and cuts core questions from 16 to 10. What federal employees lose, and how to submit a comment by August 3, 2026.

How to File for SBP Survivor Benefits: Free, Step by Step

Filing for the military Survivor Benefit Plan costs nothing. The DFAS process, DD Form 2656-7, timelines, and the $6,000 scam targeting surviving spouses.

Policy UpdatesNew

Reclassified to Schedule P/C: What Changes Day 1 (and What Doesn't)

8,000 feds are now Schedule Policy/Career. The day-one guide: which protections are gone, which benefits survive untouched, and the first-week checklist.

6(c) Retirees: The FERS Supplement Earnings Test Exemption

LEO, firefighter, ATC, and CBPO retirees are exempt from the FERS supplement earnings test until MRA. What the exemption is worth and when it ends.

Policy UpdatesNew

Federal Workforce Lawsuit Tracker 2026: 7 Cases to Watch

Every active court case deciding federal employees' job protections, in one continuously updated table: status, next date, and what each means for you.

The FEHB 5-Year Rule: 4 Myths, Debunked With OPM Sources

You don't need the same FEHB plan for 5 years. Spouse coverage counts, TRICARE counts, and breaks in service get skipped. The real rule, with citations.

Policy UpdatesNew

FLRA Union Election Rule Struck Down: What It Means for You

A federal judge vacated the FLRA rule that gave political appointees control of union elections. What Regional Directors do, and what happens to pending petitions.

$1,490/Year Apart: House vs Senate 2027 Military Pay Raise

The House wants 7% for junior enlisted; the Senate passed 3.6% flat. The per-rank dollar gap, why the House bill stalled, and what history says wins.

$616/Month: Social Security's 2032 Cut for FERS Retirees

The 2026 Trustees Report moved OASI depletion to late 2032, with a 22% automatic cut. What that does to a GS-11 or GS-12 FERS retirement income, modeled.

$645 a Month: TRICARE Retired Reserve's Real 2026 Cost

TRR runs $645.90 single or $1,548.30 family per month in 2026, full cost, no subsidy. Who qualifies, the FEHB trap that blocks feds, and the age-60 payoff.

Catch-62: The Military Buyback Trap That Cuts CSRS Pensions

Catch-62 permanently cuts CSRS pensions at age 62 if the military deposit went unpaid. Who it hits, the $440/month surprise, and how to check your status.

Pay & CompensationNew

GL and GG Pay Scales 2026: LEO and Intel Pay Explained

The GL scale pays law enforcement up to 23.3% above GS, and GG mirrors GS with intel supplements up to 90%. 2026 tables, the 3.8% raise, and LEAP math.

Leaving the Military? The Money Blindside Nobody Briefs You On

TRICARE ends, BAH stops, and an $80K civilian offer can be a $30K pay cut. The 2026 healthcare options, deadlines, and salary math for separating troops.

Policy UpdatesNew

Official Time: The $207M Federal Union Benefit Under Threat

OPM says taxpayer-funded official time hit $207.5M in FY2024, up 54% since 2019. What official time is, who uses it, and what feds lose if it ends.

OPM Interim Payments: What Retirees Get While They Wait

OPM pays 60-80% of your annuity while processing your retirement, with no FEHB deducted and no FERS supplement. The worked math and the catch-up surprise.

Policy UpdatesNew

The 8-Year RIF Penalty Hidden in OPM's New Rating Rule

OPM's final performance rule caps top ratings and kills rating grievances. A forced 3 instead of a 5 costs you 8 years of RIF retention standing. The math.

Policy UpdatesNew

USDA 'RIF in Disguise': The 9 Rights Employees Are Losing

Unions sued July 2 arguing USDA's reorganization is a RIF in disguise. See the 9 protections employees lose, the Sept. 30 deadline, and your options.

Policy UpdatesNew

VA Reorganization 2026: 30,000 Gone, 18 Regions Become 5

VA's RISE reorganization collapses 18 VISNs into 5 while the top health job sits vacant. What VA employees should know about VERA, job risk, and the EHR.

Policy UpdatesNew

Unions Sue DoD Over Canceled Bargaining Contracts

AFGE and NFFE filed suit July 3 to void Hegseth's memo terminating DoD union contracts. What the APA lawsuit and the FY2027 NDAA mean for DoD civilians.

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The topics that matter most to federal employees.

Policy Updates

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Retirement Planning

FERS guides, High-3 strategy, the supplement, survivor benefits, and real retirement case studies.

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