News for the federal workforce, updated daily.

How to Verify Your FERS Annuity Estimate Before You Retire (And Why)

How to independently verify your FERS annuity before OPM finalizes it. Protect yourself from calculation errors that cost $50K–$200K over a 20-year retirement.

Federal Workers Took a 2.8% Real Pay Cut in 2026: The 17-Year Math

1.0% raise + 3.8% April CPI = -2.8% real. GS-13 Step 5 DC is $16,059/yr behind inflation-adjusted 2010. Federal pay buying power down 13.6% since 2009.

OPM Got My Annuity Wrong: Spot FERS Errors Worth $100,000+

OPM IG flagged $1.24B in improper payments over 5 years. The Annuity Error Calculator shows what each FERS mistake costs monthly. Verify before you retire.

Federal Workers Owe $6.3 Billion in Taxes: 2026 TIGTA Agency Breakdown

TIGTA May 2026 audit: 571,000 federal employees and retirees owe $6.3 billion in unpaid taxes. Agency rankings, IRS levy authority, and Schedule F risk.

FEHB IVF Coverage 2026: Every Plan, Every Limit

Most FEHB plans cover IVF drugs but not the procedure. Only 2 nationwide plans cover the actual IVF cycle — and the gap can mean $25,000 out of pocket. Full 2026 plan matrix inside.

Navy DRP 3.0 in 2026: What's Confirmed vs. Rumored for Civilians

Live status of the Navy DRP 3.0: what's confirmed, what's still rumor, who's eligible, what admin leave pays, and the $46,800 gap to weigh before signing.

Senate Bill Would Strip Federal Pensions for Sex Crimes (S. 4447)

S. 4447 would close the Hiss Act gap: current law forfeits pensions for treason and espionage but not sex crimes. The Stanley Weber case — $98K/yr until 2021.

OPM's Forced Distribution Rule Is Final: 740K Feds Lose Top Ratings

OPM's performance appraisal final rule (FR 2026-13715) takes effect August 6, 2026. Forced distribution, no Level 2, no grievance rights. What changes and when.

Trump Accounts: $1,000 Per Child for Feds (Born 2025-2028)

Trump Accounts give every child born 2025-2028 a $1,000 federal seed deposit. Worth claiming for fed families — but a 529 still beats it for college savings.

2027 Federal Pay Raise Prediction: The August 31 Deadline, the 18-Year Chart, and the Likely Outcome

2027 federal pay raise prediction: White House 0%, FAIR Act 4.1%, FEPCA ~3.1% — and the August 31 alternative-pay-plan deadline that decides it. The 18-year pattern chart points to one outcome.

DC Locality Pay 2026: Why the DCB Rate Still Trails DC's Cost of Living

The 2026 DCB locality rate covers 55 counties — but DC's real cost of living outruns it. See the gap, the GS-15 pay-cap trap, and the telework locality risk.

Federal Hiring 'Loyalty Question': What 33,000 Postings Now Require

GS-5+ postings now include 4 essay questions on EO advancement. OPM says optional; agencies marked required. AFGE sues. Rutan v. Republican Party controls.

HHS Hires 12K After Cutting 20K: The Net Math Doesn't Add Up

HHS will hire 12,000 after cutting 20,000 — but 10,109 doctoral scientists left. Accommodation backlog: 9,000. New hires align to MAHA, not public health.

OPM Pay Scale 2026: Every Federal Pay Table — GS, SES, LEO, GG, FWS

One reference for every 2026 federal pay system: GS grades 1-15 by step, locality pay, SES, Executive Schedule, LEO special rates, GG, FWS, and the $197,200 pay cap.

OPM April 28 Memo: Why Schedule C and G Skip Performance Reviews Now

OPM exempted Schedule C and G appointees from performance appraisals on Apr 28, 2026. The 2010 bonus freeze still applies. What to know if you report to one.

CDC Cuts 2026: 4,300 Jobs Lost, $11.4B Clawed Back

CDC has lost ~4,300 employees and $11.4B in state grants since 2025 — $537M in expert capacity. RIF rights, MSPB risk, and what 10K remaining CDC staff need to know.

DOGE Used ChatGPT to Kill $100M in NEH Grants: Ruled Illegal

DOGE flagged 1,400+ NEH grants via ChatGPT — no DEI definition, no human review. Court: ultra vires, 1A, ICA. What NEH staff and grant officers need to know.

Fired for Photographing DOGE: 5 Legal Layers Federal Workers Must Know

CFPB fired Alexis Goldstein a week before her term ended after she photographed unbadged DOGE personnel. 5 laws on when federal employees can record at work.

MSPB Has 4 Appeal Stages. Most Federal Employees Only Know About 1.

Four MSPB appeal stages, not one: the 35-day Petition for Review, the addendum stage for back pay and fees, and an OPM rule threatening MSPB RIF jurisdiction.

Dept of War Rebrand: $72/Civilian for a Name Change

Pentagon spent $50M on the Department of War rebrand while losing 101K civilians. Cost-per-employee math and what 694K remaining DoD civilians need to know.

FERS Contribution Hike 2025: $4,969/Yr That Didn't Happen (Yet)

Congress proposed raising pre-2013 FERS contributions from 0.8% to 4.4%. It didn't pass. Per-paycheck dollar math by GS grade and what to watch for in 2027.

TSP Fund Returns April 2026: Stocks Up, $50K Gains $5K

April 2026 reversed Q1 losses across every TSP stock fund. C +10.49%, S +9.96%, I +9.11%. What it means for your balance, your AOP, and your YTD.

VA Vigil Investigations 2026: Federal Whistleblower Rights

VA opened investigations against employees who attended Alex Pretti's vigil. The statutes, the Pickering test, and your concrete remedies as a federal employee.

Annual Leave Tax 2026: Why Your $22K Payout Becomes $14K

Federal annual leave lump-sum payout is taxed 30-40%+ at retirement. The 4-tax stack, 5-tier matrix by GS grade, and 6 strategies to keep more of it.