The Newsroom
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.
Latest articles
575 articles · page 7 of 24Policy Updates
Forced Distribution and Your FY2026 Review: A Self-Check
OPM's September 21 memo caps Level 4 and 5 ratings at 40% combined for the FY2026 cycle. Check whether you are inside the cap, who is exempt, and what it costs.
Policy Updates
Hatch Act 2026: Social Media, AI Tools, and the Midterms
OSC just filed its first Hatch Act case involving a government AI account. What federal employees can and cannot do online before the November 3 midterms.
Retirement
OPM Billed a Retiree $102,239 for Its Own 22-Year Error
A new MSPB precedent changes the math on an OPM overpayment demand: the waiver that erased a $102,239 clawback, plus the attorney fees OPM had to pay.
Career
PACT Act 4 Years In: What's Actually Been Added in 2026?
Viral posts claim 47 new PACT Act conditions and automatic re-reviews. What the primary sources confirm, and the Intent to File move that protects back pay.
Policy Updates
Got a RIF Notice? Your 60-Day Action Guide (2026 Rules)
A day-by-day protocol for federal employees who received a RIF notice: register inspection, score checks, TCC deadlines, and the new OPM appeal clock.
Career
TRICARE Open Season 2027: Should You Switch Plans?
The 2027 TRICARE Open Season dates, the six-day FEHB deadline gap that trips dual-eligible families, what the CY2027 notice froze, and the suspend-vs-cancel trap.
Policy Updates
Federal Workforce Bills Tracker: What's Moving in Congress
Live tracker of federal employee bills in Congress: the FY2027 NDAA, paid leave, RECOVER PII Act, concurrent receipt, and the CR fight.
Benefits
FEHB Open Season 2027: The New 100% Family Verification Rule
OPM now requires agencies to verify every family member added during FEHB Open Season 2027. The documents you need and the deadlines that matter.
Career
NTEU Dues Direct Deadline: What Happens After September 5
NTEU members at agencies that lost payroll dues deduction must enroll in Dues Direct by September 5, 2026 or lose membership. Who's affected and what you keep.
Policy Updates
RECOVER PII Act: Lifetime Coverage for OPM Breach Victims
S. 5217 and H.R. 10034 would make OPM breach identity protection lifetime instead of expiring September 30. What the RECOVER PII Act covers and its real odds.
Retirement
USPS Pension Halt: What It Means for Your FERS Retirement
USPS stopped paying $2.5B into FERS while the OPM backlog fell to 8,814 claims in September. What postal and federal retirees need to know, with 12 months of OPM data.
Career
Why VA Withholds Disability Pay From 122,000 Veterans
The VA is clawing back separation pay from 122,000 veterans' disability checks. How recoupment works and the two Senate bills that would change it.
Policy Updates
DoD's Civilian Hiring Boards: Why Your Application Stalls
DoD civilian hires now clear opaque vetting boards that add weeks and give no feedback. What EO 14356 requires, what applicants can do, and your actual rights.
Pay & Compensation
Red Card Wildfire Pay: What a Fire Assignment Is Worth
What federal employees earn on wildfire assignments: overtime, 25% hazard pay, 450% incident premium, and the new prescribed-burn differential starting Sept 14.
Pay & Compensation
No Tax on Overtime? Most GS Employees Don't Qualify
The OBBBA overtime deduction only covers FLSA overtime. Check SF-50 Block 35: an E means your GS overtime doesn't count. Who qualifies and who doesn't.
Retirement
The $6,000 Senior Deduction: Federal Retiree Math
How the OBBBA senior deduction stacks for FERS and CSRS retirees 65+: the $12,000 couple math, MAGI phase-outs, Roth conversion timing, and the IRMAA catch.
Policy Updates
State Dept Is Screening GS-13/14s for At-Will Status
State is running a 7-question Schedule P/C screen on GS-13/14 positions, with a hold on routine reclassifications. The questions, who's at risk, what to do.
Career
TAMP Rule Change: Reservists Owed 180 Days of TRICARE
DoD dropped the contingency-orders requirement for TAMP after a lawsuit. Who newly qualifies, the 2020 retroactive reimbursement window, and the FEHB catch.
Policy Updates
VA Workforce 2026: Rumors vs. What's Confirmed
Live tracker for VA employees: RIF rumors, the blocked union contract termination, RISE VISN consolidation, VERA status, and staffing data. Updated as facts change.
Career
The $1,776 Warrior Dividend: Who Got It, What's Next
The one-time $1,776 Warrior Dividend was paid in December 2025, tax-free. Who qualified, how to verify it on your LES, what to do if you never got it.
Retirement
One CPI Number, Five Different Raises: Official 2027 COLA by System
The 2027 COLA is set: 3.6% for Social Security, CSRS and military (VA once the annual act passes); 2.6% for FERS 62+ and REDUX. Five formulas, a dollar matrix by benefit size.
Retirement
The Federal Retirement Checkup at 40, 50, and 55
The FERS decisions that cost the most are made mid-career, not at retirement. On-track TSP benchmarks by age, the three irrevocable choices, and each decade's deadline.
Retirement
The $64,000 Freeze: FERS Pays No COLA Until You Turn 62
Most FERS retirees under 62 get zero COLA. A $45,000 annuity taken at 52 buys $33,460 worth by 62. The erosion tables, the exceptions, and how to bridge the gap.
Benefits
OPM Breach ID Protection Expired? Check Your Date and Act Now
Free identity protection for 22.1 million OPM breach victims reportedly runs 10 years from enrollment. What you lose, what stays free, how to find your date, what to do.
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.
Get updates in your inbox
Federal pay news, retirement tips, and benefits updates — free, and no more than weekly.