WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.039 --> 00:00:04.849 Lawrence: Welcome to The FED Weekly for [dd-dd month June 2025], your 00:00:04.880 --> 00:00:09.279 essential weekly briefing on the policies and proposals shaping your career, 00:00:09.659 --> 00:00:11.729 your benefits, and your retirement. 00:00:12.279 --> 00:00:15.909 Whether you’re a current federal employee navigating changes in the civil service, 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:21.649 or a retiree keeping a close watch on your hard-earned pension and healthcare, this 00:00:21.649 --> 00:00:26.879 is your source for the latest news from Capitol Hill and the executive branch. 00:00:27.622 --> 00:00:31.512 Each week, we cut through the noise to bring you the critical updates on budget 00:00:31.512 --> 00:00:36.601 negotiations, pay raises, workforce policies, and the legislative battles that 00:00:36.601 --> 00:00:38.632 directly impact the federal community. 00:00:39.101 --> 00:00:42.431 Let's get you up to speed on what happened this past week. 00:00:43.135 --> 00:00:46.306 Issues That Affect Current and Retired Federal Workers 00:00:46.913 --> 00:00:51.094 The primary focus for all stakeholders within the federal community during 00:00:51.094 --> 00:00:56.154 mid-January 2026 was the precarious state of agency funding and the 00:00:56.154 --> 00:01:00.444 legislative maneuvers intended to prevent a recurrence of the budgetary lapses 00:01:00.444 --> 00:01:02.583 that characterized the previous year. 00:01:03.343 --> 00:01:07.894 On 14 January 2026, the House of Representatives took a 00:01:07.894 --> 00:01:10.144 significant step by passing H.R. 00:01:10.144 --> 00:01:15.793 7006, the Financial Services and General Government and National Security, 00:01:16.254 --> 00:01:20.573 Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026. 00:01:21.143 --> 00:01:25.523 This legislation, which passed with a bipartisan vote of 341 to 00:01:25.523 --> 00:01:30.143 79, is a critical component of the "minibus" strategy designed to 00:01:30.143 --> 00:01:34.913 provide full-year funding for over 20 independent agencies, including 00:01:34.913 --> 00:01:38.393 the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of the Treasury. 00:01:39.203 --> 00:01:44.183 For current employees, the bill represents a path toward operational stability; for 00:01:44.183 --> 00:01:48.374 retirees, it secures the administrative funding necessary for the Office of 00:01:48.374 --> 00:01:54.553 Personnel Management to process benefits and manage the multi-trillion-dollar Civil 00:01:54.553 --> 00:01:56.873 Service Retirement and Disability Fund. 00:01:57.551 --> 00:01:59.082 However, the passage of H.R. 00:01:59.082 --> 00:02:03.361 7006 also signaled a period of fiscal contraction. 00:02:03.881 --> 00:02:06.301 The legislation includes a 2.7 00:02:06.301 --> 00:02:09.972 billion dollar reduction for the Internal Revenue Service, specifically 00:02:09.972 --> 00:02:11.621 targeting enforcement funding. 00:02:11.701 --> 00:02:15.442 Union representatives from the National Treasury Employees Union 00:02:15.751 --> 00:02:19.831 have warned that such reductions will inevitably lead to a degradation of 00:02:19.831 --> 00:02:24.792 taxpayer services and may jeopardize the agency’s ability to modernize its 00:02:24.821 --> 00:02:26.981 aging technological infrastructure. 00:02:27.682 --> 00:02:31.342 This development impacts current employees through potential staffing 00:02:31.342 --> 00:02:36.552 shifts and impacts retirees who rely on the Internal Revenue Service for 00:02:36.552 --> 00:02:40.872 timely processing of tax documentation related to their annuities. 00:02:41.563 --> 00:02:45.224 Further legislative activity aimed at systemic workforce protection 00:02:45.224 --> 00:02:50.494 manifested on 16 January 2026, with the introduction of H.R. 00:02:50.494 --> 00:02:53.683 7137 by Representative Dusty Johnson. 00:02:54.274 --> 00:02:57.923 This bipartisan measure seeks to appropriate funds for the pay and 00:02:57.923 --> 00:03:02.243 allowances of federal employees, contract employees, and members of 00:03:02.243 --> 00:03:06.874 the Armed Forces specifically during any future lapse in appropriations. 00:03:06.923 --> 00:03:10.353 The bill addresses a persistent grievance among federal workers and 00:03:10.353 --> 00:03:14.873 retirees: the use of the workforce as a pawn in fiscal negotiations. 00:03:15.334 --> 00:03:18.843 By providing a permanent appropriation for pay, H.R. 00:03:18.843 --> 00:03:24.514 7137 aims to mitigate the financial trauma associated with shutdowns, such 00:03:24.514 --> 00:03:28.314 as the 43-day event in 2025 that left 1.4 00:03:28.314 --> 00:03:30.463 million employees without paychecks. 00:03:30.913 --> 00:03:35.323 The relevance for retirees lies in the bill’s broader intent to stabilize 00:03:35.323 --> 00:03:39.044 government operations, ensuring that the agencies managing retiree 00:03:39.044 --> 00:03:43.593 benefits remain sufficiently staffed even during budgetary impasses. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:47.639 A pivotal development in the integrity of benefit administration 00:03:47.639 --> 00:03:53.000 occurred on 12 January 2026, when the House of Representatives passed S. 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:57.740 269, the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act. 00:03:58.389 --> 00:04:01.630 This bill, which had previously passed the Senate, permanently 00:04:01.630 --> 00:04:05.759 authorizes the Department of the Treasury to access the Social Security 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:10.040 Administration’s full death records through the Do Not Pay system. 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:11.839 The implications of S. 00:04:11.839 --> 00:04:13.859 269 are twofold. 00:04:13.909 --> 00:04:18.710 First, it serves a critical fiscal oversight function by identifying and 00:04:18.710 --> 00:04:22.870 stopping improper payments made to individuals who are no longer living, 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:27.090 a problem that has historically cost the government billions of dollars. 00:04:27.949 --> 00:04:32.579 Second, for the retired community, the bill includes protections advocated by 00:04:32.579 --> 00:04:37.480 Representative John Larson to prevent the Social Security Administration from 00:04:37.509 --> 00:04:42.329 erroneously recording a death unless there is verified proof, thereby safeguarding 00:04:42.329 --> 00:04:47.059 living retirees from the accidental termination of their earned benefits. 00:04:47.665 --> 00:04:52.016 The modernization of data transparency reached a milestone on 16 January 00:04:52.016 --> 00:04:57.465 2026, with the launch of the Federal Workforce Data (FWD) website by 00:04:57.465 --> 00:04:59.325 the Office of Personnel Management. 00:04:59.776 --> 00:05:03.986 In a blog post titled "Saying goodbye is such sweet sorrow, but alas we 00:05:03.986 --> 00:05:09.576 must move FWD," Director Scott Kupor announced that the FWD platform would 00:05:09.576 --> 00:05:14.156 replace the antiquated FedScope system, which had been in use since 2000. 00:05:14.775 --> 00:05:18.595 The new platform provides a monthly, interactive view of the workforce, 00:05:18.916 --> 00:05:26.115 tracking 2,084,618 federal civilian employees across several key metrics. 00:05:26.865 --> 00:05:30.045 For current employees, the site offers transparency regarding 00:05:30.045 --> 00:05:34.196 performance ratings, administrative leave, and telework participation. 00:05:34.755 --> 00:05:37.876 For retirees and those planning their exit from the civil service, 00:05:38.246 --> 00:05:41.656 the platform includes critical data on retirement eligibility and 00:05:41.656 --> 00:05:43.665 agency-specific departure trends. 00:05:43.716 --> 00:05:47.685 Director Kupor emphasized that "transparency only works when people 00:05:47.685 --> 00:05:52.116 can see the full picture," noting that better data leads to better decisions 00:05:52.116 --> 00:05:54.515 for both policymakers and the public. 00:05:55.399 --> 00:05:59.439 Perhaps the most widespread development impacting both active and retired 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:04.269 personnel is the continued implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act, which 00:06:04.269 --> 00:06:07.929 was signed into law on 05 January 2025. 00:06:08.610 --> 00:06:13.360 This historic legislation repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) 00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:17.980 and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), two provisions that for over 40 00:06:17.980 --> 00:06:22.030 years reduced or eliminated the Social Security benefits of public servants 00:06:22.239 --> 00:06:24.249 who also received a government pension. 00:06:24.870 --> 00:06:30.779 During the week of 11 January 2026, the Social Security Administration 00:06:30.779 --> 00:06:34.850 provided updates on the massive manual review process required 00:06:34.850 --> 00:06:37.249 to adjust the records of 3.2 00:06:37.249 --> 00:06:38.549 million beneficiaries. 00:06:39.260 --> 00:06:43.179 For retirees, the repeal is retroactive to January 2024, 00:06:43.339 --> 00:06:47.790 and most affected individuals are expected to receive one-time 00:06:47.790 --> 00:06:52.389 lump-sum payments for their withheld benefits by the end of March 2026. 00:06:53.089 --> 00:06:58.319 For current employees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), the 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:02.410 law ensures that they will receive the full Social Security benefits they 00:07:02.410 --> 00:07:06.590 earned through private-sector work without the penalties that historically 00:07:06.590 --> 00:07:08.819 discouraged dual-career service. 00:07:09.494 --> 00:07:13.313 The implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act also holds 00:07:13.313 --> 00:07:15.163 significance for railroad workers. 00:07:15.514 --> 00:07:20.794 On 15 January 2026, the Railroad Retirement Board announced that it 00:07:20.794 --> 00:07:25.173 had nearly completed the issuance of retroactive payments for the non-covered 00:07:25.173 --> 00:07:27.644 service pension (NCSP) reduction. 00:07:28.103 --> 00:07:33.544 The board noted that fewer than 12 complex cases remained for manual review, marking 00:07:33.544 --> 00:07:38.714 a successful administrative transition for those previously penalized by the offset 00:07:38.714 --> 00:07:40.804 of their railroad retirement annuities. 00:07:41.423 --> 00:07:44.054 Issues That Affect Retired Federal Workers 00:07:44.625 --> 00:07:48.695 The financial landscape for retired federal employees in 2026 00:07:49.065 --> 00:07:52.625 is defined by a modest adjustment in annuities and significant 00:07:52.625 --> 00:07:55.035 changes in healthcare obligations. 00:07:55.745 --> 00:08:00.556 Effective in January 2026, federal retirees received a cost-of-living 00:08:00.556 --> 00:08:04.206 adjustment (COLA) that reflects the inflationary pressures measured 00:08:04.206 --> 00:08:05.665 during the previous fiscal year. 00:08:06.286 --> 00:08:09.346 For those retired under the Civil Service Retirement System 00:08:09.546 --> 00:08:12.866 (CSRS), the COLA was set at 2.8 00:08:12.866 --> 00:08:16.996 percent, matching the increase provided to Social Security beneficiaries. 00:08:17.276 --> 00:08:20.895 However, retirees under the Federal Employees Retirement 00:08:20.895 --> 00:08:23.285 System (FERS) received a 2.0 00:08:23.285 --> 00:08:24.316 percent adjustment. 00:08:24.985 --> 00:08:29.415 This discrepancy is a result of the statutory FERS COLA formula, which 00:08:29.415 --> 00:08:32.976 mandates that if the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and 00:08:32.976 --> 00:08:38.235 Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increase is between 2 percent and 3 percent, the 00:08:38.235 --> 00:08:40.355 FERS COLA is capped at 2 percent. 00:08:40.445 --> 00:08:44.015 Organizations such as the National Treasury Employees Union and the 00:08:44.015 --> 00:08:48.386 National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association have continued 00:08:48.386 --> 00:08:53.165 to lobby for the Equal COLA Act to rectify this perceived inequity, which 00:08:53.165 --> 00:08:57.886 they argue diminishes the purchasing power of FERS retirees over time. 00:08:58.589 --> 00:09:02.750 The real-world benefit of the 2026 COLA has been partially eroded 00:09:02.750 --> 00:09:04.579 by an increase in Medicare costs. 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:10.490 In mid-January 2026, retirees saw the first deductions for the 2026 Medicare 00:09:10.490 --> 00:09:14.590 Part B premiums, which rose to 202.90 00:09:14.590 --> 00:09:17.850 dollars per month, up from 185.00 00:09:17.850 --> 00:09:19.410 dollars in 2025. 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:20.730 This 17.90 00:09:20.730 --> 00:09:24.660 dollar monthly increase absorbs nearly 32 percent of the average 00:09:24.660 --> 00:09:29.680 56-dollar monthly COLA raise seen by Social Security and CSRS recipients. 00:09:30.780 --> 00:09:36.460 Financial analysts have observed that the "COLA catch-22" remains a primary concern 00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:40.909 for the retired community, as healthcare and housing inflation often outpace the 00:09:40.909 --> 00:09:45.909 general CPI-W index, leading to a net decline in disposable income despite 00:09:45.909 --> 00:09:47.800 the headline-level increase in benefits. 00:09:48.419 --> 00:09:51.399 The administration of retirement benefits also remains a 00:09:51.399 --> 00:09:53.119 point of operational tension. 00:09:53.619 --> 00:09:58.199 As of January 2026, the Office of Personnel Management has 00:09:58.199 --> 00:10:02.510 been managing a backlog of over 50,000 retirement applications. 00:10:03.119 --> 00:10:07.000 This administrative strain has led to significant delays in the finalization 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:12.470 of annuities, often leaving new retirees on "interim pay"—a fraction of their 00:10:12.470 --> 00:10:15.539 full expected benefit—for several months. 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:19.550 While the Office of Personnel Management has announced moves toward a "fully 00:10:19.550 --> 00:10:24.580 digital retirement process," including a new online portal launched in late 00:10:24.630 --> 00:10:29.789 2025, the transition has not yet fully alleviated the wait times that 00:10:29.789 --> 00:10:33.819 have plagued the agency during the recent surge in federal departures. 00:10:34.447 --> 00:10:38.677 For retired postal workers, the week of 11 January 2026 included 00:10:38.677 --> 00:10:42.447 specific administrative updates regarding the new Postal Service 00:10:42.447 --> 00:10:45.397 Health Benefits (PSHB) program. 00:10:45.998 --> 00:10:50.298 This program, which officially replaced Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) 00:10:50.477 --> 00:10:56.018 for postal personnel on 01 January 2025, requires Medicare-eligible postal 00:10:56.018 --> 00:11:00.317 retirees to enroll in Medicare Part B to maintain their health coverage. 00:11:00.998 --> 00:11:05.938 On 14 January 2026, the United States Postal Service announced a webinar 00:11:05.938 --> 00:11:12.128 scheduled for 21 January 2026 to discuss "USPS Retirement Health 00:11:12.167 --> 00:11:14.457 Benefits: Medicare, Dental and Vision". 00:11:15.038 --> 00:11:19.277 This session is designed to clarify the mandatory Part B enrollment rules and 00:11:19.277 --> 00:11:23.248 the integration of supplemental benefits like the Federal Employees Dental and 00:11:23.248 --> 00:11:28.808 Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), which remain available alongside PSHB. 00:11:28.948 --> 00:11:33.077 Retirees were cautioned that failure to maintain Medicare Part B enrollment 00:11:33.297 --> 00:11:37.558 results in the loss of PSHB coverage, representing a significantly 00:11:37.558 --> 00:11:41.997 stricter legal requirement than that found in the broader FEHB program. 00:11:42.623 --> 00:11:47.763 Finally, retirees were updated on tax-related adjustments for 2026. 00:11:48.453 --> 00:11:52.324 The Internal Revenue Service announced that the maximum annual contribution 00:11:52.324 --> 00:11:57.463 limit for an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) increased to 7,500 00:11:57.463 --> 00:12:01.254 dollars, up from 7,000 dollars in 2025. 00:12:01.844 --> 00:12:05.203 Additionally, the interest rate charged to federal employees and 00:12:05.203 --> 00:12:09.684 retirees who need to "buy back" military service time or pay for past 00:12:09.684 --> 00:12:14.863 service where retirement contributions were not withheld dropped to 4.25 00:12:14.863 --> 00:12:19.073 percent for 2026, down from 4.375 00:12:19.073 --> 00:12:20.604 percent the previous year. 00:12:21.514 --> 00:12:24.883 This decrease in the interest rate provides a small but welcome 00:12:24.883 --> 00:12:28.874 financial window for retirees seeking to maximize their length-of-service 00:12:28.904 --> 00:12:30.784 credits for annuity calculations. 00:12:31.391 --> 00:12:33.871 Issues That Affect Current Federal Workers 00:12:34.470 --> 00:12:39.470 The week of 11 January 2026 was marked by the official implementation of 00:12:39.470 --> 00:12:43.869 the 2026 federal pay adjustments, which saw a divergence between 00:12:43.869 --> 00:12:47.590 the general civil service and specialized law enforcement sectors. 00:12:48.449 --> 00:12:53.170 Pursuant to the executive order issued on 18 December 2025, the 00:12:53.170 --> 00:12:57.790 majority of the General Schedule (GS) workforce received a 1.0 00:12:57.790 --> 00:13:00.120 percent across-the-board pay increase. 00:13:00.969 --> 00:13:04.809 This raise, which is one of the smallest in recent history, did not 00:13:04.809 --> 00:13:09.660 include any increase in locality pay, meaning geographic pay differentials 00:13:09.660 --> 00:13:12.140 remained frozen at 2025 levels. 00:13:12.890 --> 00:13:17.079 The Office of Personnel Management published the new 2026 salary 00:13:17.079 --> 00:13:22.109 tables, which took effect on 11 January 2026 for most employees. 00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:26.989 For those in the Senior Executive Service (SES) and senior-level (SL/ST) 00:13:26.989 --> 00:13:33.620 positions, the minimum rate of basic pay was adjusted to 151,661 dollars for 2026. 00:13:34.239 --> 00:13:38.450 In contrast, federal law enforcement officers received a more substantial 00:13:38.450 --> 00:13:42.590 adjustment to address chronic recruitment and retention challenges. 00:13:43.170 --> 00:13:48.929 On 11 January 2026, a new special salary rate schedule went into effect for certain 00:13:48.929 --> 00:13:53.929 law enforcement personnel, providing a total pay increase of approximately 3.8 00:13:53.929 --> 00:13:54.460 percent. 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:59.829 This adjustment, approved by Director Scott Kupor, combines the 1.0 00:13:59.829 --> 00:14:03.050 percent base increase with an additional 2.8 00:14:03.050 --> 00:14:06.350 percent special rate, matching the pay raise provided to 00:14:06.350 --> 00:14:07.909 the United States military. 00:14:08.670 --> 00:14:12.569 These special rates apply to critical positions within Customs and Border 00:14:12.569 --> 00:14:17.600 Protection, the Secret Service, and the Bureau of Prisons, and are designed 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:21.150 to support the administration's priorities regarding border security 00:14:21.470 --> 00:14:23.639 and federal law enforcement efficacy. 00:14:24.549 --> 00:14:30.490 Additionally, bipartisan legislation was proposed on 16 January 2026 to 00:14:30.490 --> 00:14:34.459 establish a 35 percent special pay rate for federal prison workers 00:14:34.780 --> 00:14:38.909 until the Bureau of Prisons reduces its reliance on mandatory overtime. 00:14:39.491 --> 00:14:43.142 A major judicial development affecting labor relations occurred 00:14:43.142 --> 00:14:48.771 on 15 January 2026, when Judge Jamal Whitehead of the U.S. 00:14:48.771 --> 00:14:53.281 District Court for the Western District of Washington issued a ruling halting 00:14:53.281 --> 00:14:57.462 the administration's second attempt to strip union rights from Transportation 00:14:57.462 --> 00:15:00.521 Security Administration (TSA) employees. 00:15:01.181 --> 00:15:04.382 The Department of Homeland Security had planned to implement a new 00:15:04.632 --> 00:15:10.601 "policy determination" on 18 January 2026 that would have terminated 00:15:10.601 --> 00:15:14.672 the collective bargaining agreement between the agency and the American 00:15:14.672 --> 00:15:16.611 Federation of Government Employees. 00:15:17.301 --> 00:15:20.632 Judge Whitehead ruled that this move "plainly" violated 00:15:20.632 --> 00:15:23.091 a 2025 preliminary injunction. 00:15:23.731 --> 00:15:28.911 He ordered the agency to immediately notify its 47,000 security screeners 00:15:29.402 --> 00:15:34.711 that their 2024 collective bargaining agreement remains "applicable and binding" 00:15:34.742 --> 00:15:38.861 and that all grievances and arbitrations must continue to be processed. 00:15:39.722 --> 00:15:43.812 Union President Everett Kelley thanked the court for preventing the administration 00:15:43.812 --> 00:15:48.112 from "ripping up their union contract again," noting that many of these 00:15:48.112 --> 00:15:52.312 officers are veterans who deserve a voice in their working conditions. 00:15:53.191 --> 00:15:57.882 In the executive branch, a significant reversal of personnel policy occurred 00:15:57.882 --> 00:16:03.681 on 13 January 2026, when the Department of Health and Human Services rescinded 00:16:03.681 --> 00:16:07.952 layoff notices for hundreds of employees at the National Institute for 00:16:07.952 --> 00:16:10.561 Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 00:16:11.422 --> 00:16:14.932 These employees, who primarily investigate workplace outbreaks 00:16:14.932 --> 00:16:19.231 and illnesses, had been on paid administrative leave since the massive 00:16:19.231 --> 00:16:22.072 job cuts announced in April 2025. 00:16:22.162 --> 00:16:26.982 The rescission of the reduction-in-force (RIF) was first reported by Bloomberg 00:16:26.982 --> 00:16:31.082 News and confirmed by Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon, 00:16:31.411 --> 00:16:34.571 who stated that the administration is committed to protecting 00:16:34.602 --> 00:16:36.422 essential public health functions. 00:16:37.302 --> 00:16:42.922 While the employees returned to work on 14 January 2026, union leaders noted 00:16:42.922 --> 00:16:47.282 that the nine months of uncertainty have caused "incalculable damage" 00:16:47.501 --> 00:16:49.732 to the agency's research projects. 00:16:50.427 --> 00:16:54.418 A contrasting situation emerged at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 00:16:54.418 --> 00:17:01.297 (CFPB), where on 16 January 2026, reports indicated that while the agency staved 00:17:01.297 --> 00:17:05.917 off immediate furloughs after receiving funding, the administration continued 00:17:05.917 --> 00:17:07.988 to push for its eventual dismantlement. 00:17:09.097 --> 00:17:13.717 Under current directives, the agency is cutting pay and benefits for employees 00:17:13.918 --> 00:17:18.178 as it seeks to lay off virtually all of them, complying with court orders 00:17:18.488 --> 00:17:22.867 while simultaneously "squeezing" staff in an effort to shut itself down. 00:17:23.608 --> 00:17:27.417 This remains one of the most volatile areas of federal employment as 00:17:27.417 --> 00:17:31.658 the agency transitions toward an internal merger and eventual closure. 00:17:32.434 --> 00:17:35.634 The Office of Personnel Management also issued critical guidance 00:17:35.634 --> 00:17:40.764 on 13 January 2026 regarding the modernization of federal hiring. 00:17:41.413 --> 00:17:44.524 The memorandum, "Reinvigorating Merit-Based Hiring through 00:17:44.524 --> 00:17:48.414 Candidate Ranking," formally operationalizes the "Rule of Many". 00:17:48.914 --> 00:17:53.943 This change replaces the outdated "Rule of Three," which required hiring managers 00:17:53.943 --> 00:17:58.203 to select from only the top three candidates on a numerically ranked list. 00:17:59.213 --> 00:18:02.804 The new "Rule of Many" allows agencies to consider a broader 00:18:02.804 --> 00:18:06.643 pool of qualified applicants based on skills-based assessments. 00:18:07.343 --> 00:18:12.034 This process aims to remove barriers to entry for highly qualified candidates 00:18:12.293 --> 00:18:16.424 while maintaining veterans' preference through a points-based ranking system. 00:18:17.073 --> 00:18:22.974 Agencies must be in full compliance with these new regulations by 09 March 2026. 00:18:23.694 --> 00:18:28.183 Beyond these administrative shifts, the week saw a flurry of new legislative 00:18:28.183 --> 00:18:31.814 proposals that could redefine the requirements of federal service. 00:18:32.333 --> 00:18:37.994 On 15 January 2026, Representative Abraham Hamadeh introduced H.R. 00:18:37.994 --> 00:18:42.033 7102, which would require all federal civilian career employees 00:18:42.033 --> 00:18:45.324 to pass a citizenship test as a condition of employment. 00:18:45.904 --> 00:18:48.723 On the same day, Senator Rick Scott introduced S. 00:18:48.783 --> 00:18:54.773 3681, providing continuing appropriations for Customs and Border Protection and 00:18:54.773 --> 00:18:58.544 Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel during government shutdowns. 00:18:59.164 --> 00:19:04.263 On 16 January 2026, Representative Bill Foster introduced H.R. 00:19:04.263 --> 00:19:08.634 7132 to establish minimum staffing levels for the Financial 00:19:08.634 --> 00:19:10.313 Stability Oversight Council. 00:19:10.454 --> 00:19:14.024 These bills represent a broader congressional effort to either 00:19:14.024 --> 00:19:18.574 increase accountability or provide targeted stability to specific 00:19:18.574 --> 00:19:20.313 segments of the federal workforce. 00:19:20.987 --> 00:19:23.457 Finally, the federal workforce continued to navigate the 00:19:23.457 --> 00:19:27.607 implementation of "Schedule Policy" (formerly known as Schedule F). 00:19:28.438 --> 00:19:33.297 Under the Office of Management and Budget’s memorandum M-26-03, agencies 00:19:33.297 --> 00:19:37.118 have been directed to "aggressively use" new job classifications to 00:19:37.118 --> 00:19:42.057 reclassify tens of thousands of career civil servants as "at-will" employees. 00:19:42.757 --> 00:19:47.507 This policy targets "policy-related" positions and strips employees of their 00:19:47.507 --> 00:19:52.227 rights to appeal adverse actions to the Merit Systems Protection Board. 00:19:52.827 --> 00:19:58.227 As 2026 begins, agencies have already started turning over lists of positions 00:19:58.227 --> 00:20:02.148 to the Office of Personnel Management for conversion, a shift that the 00:20:02.148 --> 00:20:05.957 administration frames as essential for presidential accountability 00:20:06.358 --> 00:20:10.288 but which labor advocates warn will eradicate the non-partisan 00:20:10.288 --> 00:20:12.108 nature of the federal bureaucracy. 00:20:12.928 --> 00:20:17.668 Amidst these structural changes, the administration also reinforced its "Return 00:20:17.668 --> 00:20:24.387 to Office" directives, with Director Kupor arguing in a 16 January 2026 blog post 00:20:24.707 --> 00:20:29.078 that in-person collaboration is essential for building the relationships that enable 00:20:29.078 --> 00:20:31.017 optimal decision-making in government. 00:20:31.835 --> 00:20:35.196 And that’s a wrap on this week’s Federal Workforce Roundup. 00:20:35.496 --> 00:20:39.665 The landscape for federal employees and retirees is constantly shifting, 00:20:39.976 --> 00:20:44.745 with major decisions being made about everything from pay and job security 00:20:44.976 --> 00:20:48.816 to retirement benefits and the very structure of the civil service. 00:20:49.236 --> 00:20:51.525 Staying informed is your best tool. 00:20:51.865 --> 00:20:56.396 Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an update. 00:20:57.171 --> 00:20:58.192 Thanks for tuning in. 00:20:58.371 --> 00:21:01.082 We’ll be back next week to track the latest developments 00:21:01.251 --> 00:21:02.592 and what they mean for you. 00:21:03.151 --> 00:21:06.042 Until then, stay engaged and be well.