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328 articles · page 8 of 14Career
Fired Under Article II? You May Be Able to Sue in Federal Court
Two April 2026 federal court rulings opened the door. If your termination letter cites Article II, MSPB may not be your only option.
Pay & Compensation
DHS Shutdown Back Pay: When It Lands, What It Touches
76-day DHS shutdown ended April 30. When retro pay deposits, how TSP makeup works, FEHB premium recovery, and dollar examples by GS grade.
TSP
DOL 401(k) Private Equity Rule: Why TSP Is Exempt By Law
DOL's proposed rule could put private equity in default 401(k)s. TSP is statutorily protected. What federal employees need to know before June 1.
Policy Updates
EPA Lost 3,700+ Employees Since January 2026: Career Guide
EPA workforce dropped 23% in six months. ORD eliminated. Union contracts terminated. What every EPA employee needs to know about RIF, VERA, and what comes next.
Benefits
Mental Health, Security Clearance + FEHB 2026: What Feds Need
DCSA: 68 clearance denials in 7.7 million cases. SF-86 Question 21 exemptions, EAP confidentiality rules, and a 5-plan FEHB comparison matrix for federal employees.
Pay & Compensation
LEAP, AUO, Premium Pay: Your Federal Pension Math
LEAP counts toward your High-3. AUO sometimes does. Premium pay never does. The matrix every LEO and 1811 should know before retirement.
Retirement
Federal Survivor Benefits 2026: What Your Family Actually Gets
FEHB trap, BEDB lump sum, survivor annuity cost. The math every federal employee needs before electing survivor benefits at retirement.
Retirement
FERS Disability Retirement: The 18-Month Eligibility Most Feds Miss
FERS disability retirement requires just 18 months of service, not 5 years. Most federal employees don't know they may already qualify. Here's the math.
Retirement
MRA+10 Lifetime Cost: 4 Hidden Penalties Stack to $300K+
MRA+10 retirement at 57 doesn't just cost the 5% penalty. Add COLA blackout, Supplement loss, and FEHB gap. Total: $300K+ over 25 years. The full math.
Policy Updates
NASA Workforce Cuts 2026: 4,000 Gone, RIF Risk Ahead
NASA is down ~4,000 civil servants (23%) via DRP, VERA, and VSIP. Where cuts stand in 2026: Goddard building closures, FY2027 proposals, RIF authority.
Retirement
Federal Phased Retirement 2026: The Option 99% of Eligible Feds Skip
Only 1,055 of an estimated 150,000+ eligible federal employees use phased retirement. The math, the High-3 trap, and why agencies are the real gatekeeper.
Benefits
SF-86 Mistakes 2026: 12 Errors That Delay Federal Clearances
Financial issues drive ~50% of DOHA denials. The 12 most common SF-86 errors, by section, with mitigation. Plus the Continuous Vetting update for 2026.
TSP
TSP vs IRA Rollover: The $1M Federal Retirement Decision
Rolling your TSP to an IRA at retirement could cost $1M+ in fees. The DOL fiduciary rule was vacated. Here's what every federal retiree should know.
Retirement
TSP + Roth IRA 2026: The $3,000/Year Tax Move Most Feds Miss
Adding a Roth IRA to your TSP saves federal retirees $480 to $3,080 per year in taxes plus IRMAA. The math, by income tier, with 2026 limits.
Policy Updates
Marijuana Schedule III: 4 Things Federal Employees Must Know
The April 2026 DOJ marijuana order changed less than Reddit thinks. What federal employees actually need to know about drug tests and clearances.
Policy Updates
Comment Deadline May 4: OPM RIF Rule Veterans Call Illegal
OPM's proposed RIF rule converts veterans' categorical job protection into bonus points. DAV calls it illegal. Public comments close May 4, 2026.
Policy Updates
DHS Pay Cliff May 2026: What Happens to Your FERS, FEHB, TSP
DHS funds run out in early May 2026. Exactly how non-pay status affects your FERS accrual, FEHB premiums, TSP match, severance, and UCFE benefits.
Policy Updates
DoD Union Contracts Terminated: What 300,000 Civilians Just Lost
Hegseth terminated DoD CBAs April 9. Side-by-side statutory baseline vs. union add-ons, what protections survive, and your action checklist.
Policy Updates
IRS Says Less People = Better Results. The Data Says Otherwise.
IRS CEO claimed 27% staffing cuts produced better results. IRS's own FOIA data: 1040 waits +71%, ACS waits up nearly 300%, $5B enforcement revenue lost.
Policy Updates
OPM Job Series Consolidation 2026: RIF Risk by Series
OPM is cutting 604 GS series by 25%. How consolidation reshapes RIF retention registers, who's in Phase One, and what to do before May 11.
Pay & Compensation
2027 Federal Pay Freeze: What $0 Means for Every GS Grade
Will federal employees get a 2027 pay raise? See the dollar impact of a freeze, 1%, or 4.1% raise on every GS grade, with free calculator.
Policy Updates
DHS Pay Cliff May 2026: $1.6B Crisis and Your Paycheck
DHS runs out of payroll cash the first week of May 2026. What the $1.6B cliff means for your paycheck, FEHB, TSP, and back pay under the Anti-Deficiency Act.
Retirement
FERS MRA+10 Retirement 2026: Real Math and 5% Penalty Trap
The definitive FERS MRA+10 guide with 2026 pay data, 3 worked examples, FEHB postponement rules, and the 5% penalty mechanics most content gets wrong.
Policy Updates
HHS RIF Protections 2026: What Career Feds Need to Know
Kennedy told Congress he replaced 20K HHS workers with 'a better group.' ICE hired 12K with sterling credentials bypassed. What RIF law actually requires.
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The topics that matter most to federal employees.Policy Updates
Pay raises, OPM guidance, RIFs, and the legislation that reshapes federal employment.
Retirement Planning
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