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Welcome to The FED Weekly, the go-to podcast for current and retired U.S. federal employees who need to stay informed on the issues that matter most. In a rapidly changing political landscape, we deliver concise, weekly updates on the legislative, executive, and agency-level actions that have a direct impact on your professional life and financial future.
The FED Weekly 5-11 Apr 2026 (Episode 45)
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[00:00:00] Weekly Briefing Intro
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Welcome to The FED Weekly for 5-11 April 2026, your essential weekly briefing on the policies and proposals shaping your career, your benefits, and your retirement. Whether you’re a current federal employee navigating changes in the civil service, or a retiree keeping a close watch on your hard-earned pension and healthcare, this is your source for the latest news from Capitol Hill and the executive branch.
Each week, we cut through the noise to bring you the critical updates on budget negotiations, pay raises, workforce policies, and the legislative battles that directly impact the federal community. Let's get you up to speed on what happened this past week.
[00:00:43] Issues That Affect Current and Retired Federal Workers
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Issues That Affect Current and Retired Federal Workers
We begin today with a story that has sent shockwaves through the federal community this week. It concerns a new proposal from the Office of Personnel Management—or OPM—that could change how your [00:01:00] most sensitive personal information is handled.
[00:01:03] The OPM Medical Data Collection Proposal
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The OPM Medical Data Collection Proposal
On 10 April 2026, the American Federation of Government Employees, known as AFGE, issued a formal "alarm" regarding a proposal that would allow OPM to collect personally identifiable health records for more than eight million people. This includes current employees, retirees, members of Congress, and their families.
According to AFGE National President Everett Kelley, this proposal—which was initially published with very little fanfare—would require 65 insurance carriers to submit monthly reports to OPM. These wouldn't just be broad statistics; the reports would contain individual health data. We are talking about prescription records, specific diagnoses, treatment histories, and provider information.
[00:01:53] Privacy Risks and HIPAA
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The major point of contention here is that there is currently no requirement to "de-identify" this data. [00:02:00] That means your name could be attached to your medical history in a government database. During the week of 5 April 2026, legal experts and insurance giants like CVS Health raised serious concerns about whether this complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. CVS Health has even gone so far as to state that complying with OPM’s request as it stands would require insurers to break the law.
Why does this matter to you? Beyond the obvious privacy concerns, there is a fear of "data weaponization." Unions are concerned that this data could be used to target or discipline workers based on their health choices or medical needs, such as reproductive health care or gender-affirming treatments. As of 11 April 2026, the federal community is waiting for the Office of Management and Budget to publish a corresponding notice, which will open a new public comment period. We will be watching this [00:03:00] closely.
[00:03:01] Issues That Affect Retired Federal Workers
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Issues That Affect Retired Federal Workers
Moving now to updates specifically for our retired listeners and those standing on the doorstep of retirement. This week marked the conclusion of some very narrow but critical windows for your benefits and tax compliance.
[00:03:17] Medicare and RMD Penalties
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Medicare and RMD Deadlines
While the dates technically fell just before our 5 April 2026 start date, the "aftermath" and processing of these deadlines dominated the news cycle for retirees this week.
First, let's talk about the Medicare General Enrollment Period. That period ended on 31 March 2026. For those of you who missed it, the focus this week has been on understanding the late enrollment penalties that may now apply. If you are a federal retiree age 65 or older and you didn't sign up for Medicare Part B when you were first eligible—and you missed that 31 March deadline—you might be looking at a permanent [00:04:00] 10 percent increase in your premium for each 12-month period you could have had Part B but didn't.
Second, for those of you born in 1952, 1 April 2026 was the drop-dead date to take your first Required Minimum Distribution, or RMD, from your Thrift Savings Plan or traditional IRAs. Reports surfacing during the week of 5 April 2026 indicate that many retirees are still navigating the transition from the old RMD age of 72 to the current rules. If you missed this deadline, the IRS penalty can be as high as 25 percent of the amount that should have been withdrawn. If you’re in this boat, check with a tax professional immediately to see if you qualify for a penalty waiver.
[00:04:46] WEP GPO Repeal Update
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The WEP/GPO Repeal Progress
We also want to provide a quick update on the Social Security Fairness Act. As we move through April 2026, retirees who spent a portion of their careers in positions not [00:05:00] covered by Social Security—like those under the old Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)—are finally seeing the full impact of the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
Following the legislation that went into effect last year, the Social Security Administration has been working through a massive backlog. During this week of 11 April 2026, many retirees reported seeing the first full, non-reduced payments in their accounts. If you have not seen your benefit adjusted yet, the SSA recommends contacting your local office, as the "catch-up" phase is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month.
[00:05:43] Issues That Affect Current Federal Workers
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Issues That Affect Current Federal Workers
Finally, we turn our attention to those of you currently in the trenches. The news this week for active federal employees is dominated by two things: where you work and how your performance is measured.
[00:05:59] Telework Tracking Tightens
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[00:06:00] Telework Compliance and TIGTA Reports
On 9 April 2026, new reports highlighted the ongoing struggle between the administration and federal agencies regarding "Return to Office" mandates. Specifically, a report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration—or TIGTA—detailed the challenges the IRS is facing in monitoring compliance with the 2025 directive that cancelled most remote work agreements.
The report, which gained significant traction in federal news circles this week, found that while telework has decreased, agency monitoring is... well, it’s a bit of a mess. About 11 percent of daily time charges didn't have corresponding badge-in data to support in-person work. For employees, this means the "honor system" is officially over. The IRS and other agencies are currently finalizing new "quarterly monitoring" processes. If you are a current employee, expect more stringent tracking of your [00:07:00] office attendance as we head into the summer.
[00:07:03] Performance Ratings Curve
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Performance Rating Overhauls
There is also a significant update regarding how you are evaluated. Throughout this week of 5 April 2026, OPM has been moving forward with a proposal to overhaul the federal performance management system.
The goal of this new policy is to limit "rating inflation." Essentially, the administration wants to put a cap on how many employees can be rated as "above average" or "outstanding." Under the current proposal being discussed in Washington this week, supervisors would be forced to adhere to a more rigid curve. This is a major shift from the last few decades, where performance ratings were largely at the discretion of individual managers. Unions are already signaling that they will fight this, arguing that it creates an unnecessarily competitive and demoralizing environment for civil servants.
[00:07:57] Pay Raise and Locality Gap
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The 2026 Pay Scale [00:08:00] Adjustments
Lastly, a quick check on your paycheck. We are now several months into the 1.0 percent across-the-board pay increase that took effect in January 2026. However, during the week of 5 April 2026, there has been renewed discussion in Congress about the "Locality Pay" gap.
While the 1.0 percent increase was applied to the base GS scale, locality percentages remained frozen at 2025 levels for most areas. Legislative researchers this week pointed out that with inflation hovering where it is, the "real wages" for federal employees in high-cost areas like San Francisco, New York, and DC are effectively stagnant. Keep an eye on the upcoming 2027 budget hearings, as this "locality freeze" is becoming a primary focal point for federal advocacy groups.
[00:08:52] Wrap Up and Subscribe
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And that’s a wrap on this week’s Federal Workforce Roundup. The landscape for federal employees and retirees is constantly shifting, [00:09:00] with major decisions being made about everything from pay and job security to retirement benefits and the very structure of the civil service. Staying informed is your best tool. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an update.
Thanks for tuning in. We’ll be back next week to track the latest developments and what they mean for you. Until then, stay engaged and be well.