Federal employee news, read closely.

$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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

BOP Closing 6 Prisons: RIF Risk and Your 6c Options

BOP is closing six facilities over staffing. ~500 employees affected, Big Spring and La Tuna face RIFs. What 6c correctional officers should do about it.

$615 a Month Gone: The BRS Reenlistment Coding Trap

Returning to service with a pre-2018 DIEMS? Pay systems often auto-code you into BRS when you're entitled to legacy High-3. Check one LES field to catch it.

DOGE Is Over: 12 Agencies Now Hiring Again (Tracker)

The DOGE charter expired July 4, 2026, and job postings are up 50%. Agency-by-agency reopen tracker, what the 4-to-1 cap still blocks, and how separated feds get back in.

FEHB Family Verification: Documents You Now Need (2026)

As of July 2, 2026, you must prove every family member you add to FEHB or PSHB is eligible. The exact documents, deadlines, and removal rules.

15,500 Stalled Requests: The NTEU Telework Lawsuit

NTEU sued Treasury and HHS June 29 over 6,500+ and 9,000 stalled disability telework requests. What to do if your accommodation is stuck in the backlog.

OPM's New Admin Leave Rule: Comment by July 29, 2026

OPM's proposed rule caps investigative admin leave at 10 workdays and codifies deferred-resignation leave. What changes and how to comment by July 29.

$3,548 on the Table: 2026 PCS Entitlement Mistakes

Peak PCS season 2026: the BAH reset, DLA, TLE, and DITY mistakes that cost service members thousands. Full 2026 DLA table and the PPM tax surprise.

TRICARE 2026 Costs: Rx Copays Up 16%, Fees Up 2.8%

Every verified 2026 TRICARE number for retirees: pharmacy copays, Prime and Select fees by group, catastrophic caps, TYA premiums, and the TFL Part B math.

USDA Is Betting You'll Quit: Relocate-or-Separate Math

USDA is moving over half its D.C. workforce to five hubs and expects a 'significant number' to leave. Component cut projections and the severance-vs-DSR math.

$35 an Hour: What One More Year in FERS Really Pays

Once you're FERS-eligible, working another year nets roughly half your salary. The marginal-year formula, 3 worked profiles, and the one year that flips it.

Douglas Factors Eliminated: 12 Protections Feds Could Lose

OPM's July 2026 rule would end the 12 Douglas factors and cap PIPs at 30 days. What federal employees lose, what to do now, and how to comment by August 3.

OPM Buyout Deadline July 13: The DRP + VERA Offer Explained

OPM Healthcare and Insurance employees have until July 13 at 5 p.m. ET to accept the DRP + VERA buyout offer. Three decision paths and seven traps, explained.

$117,000 Per Resignation: The Real Cost of the Federal DRP

New GAO data shows 129,000 feds left under the DRP. Independent analysis pegs the cost near $15 billion. We ran the per-employee math nobody published.