WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.039 --> 00:00:06.699 Lawrence: Welcome to The FED Weekly for 23-29 November 2025, your essential 00:00:06.699 --> 00:00:10.369 weekly briefing on the policies and proposals shaping your career, 00:00:10.649 --> 00:00:12.829 your benefits, and your retirement. 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:17.329 Whether you’re a current federal employee navigating changes in the civil service 00:00:17.670 --> 00:00:22.750 or a retiree keeping a close watch on your hard-earned pension and healthcare, this 00:00:22.750 --> 00:00:27.510 is your source for the latest news from Capitol Hill and the executive branch. 00:00:28.115 --> 00:00:31.986 Each week, we cut through the noise to bring you the critical updates on budget 00:00:31.986 --> 00:00:37.615 negotiations, pay raises, workforce policies, and the legislative battles that 00:00:37.615 --> 00:00:39.996 directly impact the federal community. 00:00:40.655 --> 00:00:43.996 Let's get you up to speed on what happened this past week. 00:00:44.671 --> 00:00:47.891 Issues That Affect Current and Retired Federal Workers 00:00:48.449 --> 00:00:52.340 The Critical Benefits Window: Federal Benefits Open Season Update 00:00:52.919 --> 00:00:57.590 The period from November 23 to November 29 occurs during the critical 00:00:57.590 --> 00:01:03.369 Federal Benefits Open Season, which began on November 10, 2025, and 00:01:03.369 --> 00:01:06.470 continues through December 8, 2025. 00:01:07.350 --> 00:01:11.259 This enrollment period is uniquely important this year, as the recent 00:01:11.259 --> 00:01:15.789 government shutdown severely complicated agencies’ ability to communicate essential 00:01:15.789 --> 00:01:18.160 information and resources to employees. 00:01:19.130 --> 00:01:22.449 Following the resolution of the appropriations lapse, the Office of 00:01:22.449 --> 00:01:26.839 Personnel Management (OPM) issued guidance encouraging agencies to 00:01:26.839 --> 00:01:31.269 prioritize communicating Open Season information immediately, placing 00:01:31.269 --> 00:01:35.470 special emphasis on notifying employees of plan changes detailed in 00:01:35.470 --> 00:01:38.760 Benefits Administration Letter 25-401. 00:01:39.582 --> 00:01:41.982 The 2026 Affordability Crisis 00:01:42.578 --> 00:01:47.368 For both active employees and federal retirees, the dominant factor impacting 00:01:47.397 --> 00:01:51.908 Open Season decision-making is the continuing escalation of healthcare costs. 00:01:52.378 --> 00:01:56.198 OPM announced that the average enrollee share for premiums under the Federal 00:01:56.198 --> 00:02:01.167 Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program will rise sharply by 12.3% 00:02:01.167 --> 00:02:03.007 for the 2026 plan year. 00:02:03.368 --> 00:02:09.778 This increase continues a worrying trend of steep premium hikes, following a 13.5% 00:02:09.778 --> 00:02:13.507 jump in 2025, and marks the third consecutive year of 00:02:13.507 --> 00:02:15.278 significant rate acceleration. 00:02:15.728 --> 00:02:20.347 Participants in the newer Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program are 00:02:20.347 --> 00:02:26.138 also facing steep increases, with their average enrollee share rising by 11.3%. 00:02:27.007 --> 00:02:30.707 OPM attributes these relentless cost pressures to demographic 00:02:30.707 --> 00:02:34.147 realities, noting that the average age of enrollees is high—around 00:02:34.428 --> 00:02:39.468 47 for active employees, rising to 60 when retirees are included—and 00:02:40.067 --> 00:02:44.157 to persistently high prescription drug and overall medical costs. 00:02:44.927 --> 00:02:49.048 The reality of this dual-digit percentage increase means that for many federal 00:02:49.048 --> 00:02:53.157 workers and retirees, the effective value of their compensation package 00:02:53.378 --> 00:02:57.437 is being rapidly diminished by the cost of maintaining health coverage. 00:02:58.111 --> 00:03:00.851 Hidden Cost Shifts and Benefit Design Changes 00:03:01.454 --> 00:03:05.934 Beyond the immediate rise in premiums, an equally consequential trend is the 00:03:05.934 --> 00:03:10.614 shifting of financial risk onto enrollees through modifications to plan designs. 00:03:11.233 --> 00:03:16.204 Analyzing the benefit changes for 2026 reveals that for many plans, what an 00:03:16.204 --> 00:03:21.094 enrollee pays when services are utilized is set to increase significantly. 00:03:21.893 --> 00:03:26.014 This complexity necessitates a careful review of specific plan brochures 00:03:26.293 --> 00:03:28.254 beyond just premium comparisons. 00:03:28.954 --> 00:03:32.604 A clear example of this cost shifting is the increase in the catastrophic 00:03:32.604 --> 00:03:36.643 limit—the maximum out-of-pocket amount an enrollee must pay for 00:03:36.643 --> 00:03:38.763 approved healthcare services annually. 00:03:39.244 --> 00:03:43.464 For 2026, twenty-nine out of one hundred thirty-two FEHB 00:03:43.464 --> 00:03:45.283 plans are raising this limit. 00:03:45.963 --> 00:03:50.444 The magnitude of these increases is striking: GEHA Standard, a popular 00:03:50.444 --> 00:03:54.444 nationwide plan, is increasing its out-of-network catastrophic limit by a 00:03:54.444 --> 00:04:01.223 staggering 135%, raising the self-only limit from $8,500 to $20,000, and 00:04:01.223 --> 00:04:06.554 the self-plus-one/self-and-family coverage limit from $17,000 to $40,000. 00:04:07.473 --> 00:04:12.293 Other significant nationwide PPO plans are also increasing utilization costs. 00:04:12.823 --> 00:04:16.734 For instance, BCBS Basic members will face higher costs for durable 00:04:16.734 --> 00:04:20.453 medical equipment, emergency room services, inpatient and 00:04:20.453 --> 00:04:24.343 outpatient hospital services, lab tests, and ambulance services. 00:04:24.573 --> 00:04:29.073 GEHA High and Standard members will also see increased costs for physician visits, 00:04:29.304 --> 00:04:34.323 emergency room visits, higher deductibles, and higher coinsurance percentages. 00:04:34.929 --> 00:04:39.530 While utilization costs are rising, the program is also introducing new mandates. 00:04:39.990 --> 00:04:45.809 All FEHB plans are now required to provide coverage for at least one GLP-1 medication 00:04:46.089 --> 00:04:49.900 prescribed for weight loss, and more options than ever before are available 00:04:49.900 --> 00:04:52.639 for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) coverage. 00:04:53.070 --> 00:04:55.910 However, even these newly mandated benefits may come with 00:04:55.910 --> 00:04:57.930 increased member responsibility. 00:04:58.719 --> 00:05:01.949 For example, some Kaiser plans are increasing the cost share 00:05:01.949 --> 00:05:05.770 for GLP-1 medications prescribed for weight loss to 50%. 00:05:06.510 --> 00:05:12.230 These concurrent changes—rising premiums, sharply increasing catastrophic limits, 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:15.359 and new cost-sharing arrangements for mandated benefits—underscore that 00:05:15.819 --> 00:05:20.659 the real cost of FEHB coverage is accelerating at a rate far exceeding 00:05:20.659 --> 00:05:22.679 the official average premium increase. 00:05:23.367 --> 00:05:26.968 Congressional Legislative Tracking: Healthcare Cost Drivers 00:05:27.611 --> 00:05:32.751 The rapid escalation of FEHB costs, which directly affects the federal budget and 00:05:32.751 --> 00:05:37.492 the financial security of millions of citizens, has driven active legislative 00:05:37.492 --> 00:05:39.912 interest in Congress during this period. 00:05:40.502 --> 00:05:42.912 The underlying structure of health care pricing is under 00:05:42.912 --> 00:05:47.582 scrutiny, particularly related to Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). 00:05:48.231 --> 00:05:50.791 The Senate Finance Committee announced plans this week to 00:05:50.791 --> 00:05:55.711 reintroduce bipartisan PBM reform legislation in the coming weeks. 00:05:55.791 --> 00:06:00.062 PBMs are the middlemen in the drug supply chain, and reform legislation 00:06:00.062 --> 00:06:04.551 typically seeks to curb opaque practices, such as spread pricing in Medicaid, 00:06:04.862 --> 00:06:10.101 and mandate that PBMs pass 100% of manufacturer rebates to plan sponsors. 00:06:10.772 --> 00:06:14.391 These reforms are aimed directly at reducing prescription drug costs, 00:06:14.572 --> 00:06:19.491 which OPM cited as a primary pressure point driving FEHB premium inflation. 00:06:20.095 --> 00:06:23.736 In the broader healthcare arena, legislative proposals introduced 00:06:23.736 --> 00:06:27.345 just before the reporting window signal a potential shift toward 00:06:27.345 --> 00:06:29.375 consumer-driven healthcare models. 00:06:30.196 --> 00:06:33.526 Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced the More Affordable 00:06:33.526 --> 00:06:36.226 Care Act on November 20, 2025. 00:06:36.875 --> 00:06:40.666 This bill proposes creating "Trump Health Freedom Accounts". 00:06:41.535 --> 00:06:45.846 Under this model, individuals would receive the value of federal premium tax 00:06:45.846 --> 00:06:49.806 credits directly into these accounts, which could then be used for out-of-pocket 00:06:49.806 --> 00:06:53.806 health care costs or, critically, to pay health insurance premiums. 00:06:54.425 --> 00:06:59.725 The legislation is championed as a way to "fix Obamacare" and instill transparency 00:06:59.725 --> 00:07:03.986 by providing patients with upfront pricing for medical goods and services. 00:07:04.686 --> 00:07:09.326 While this bill targets the general healthcare market, a governmental emphasis 00:07:09.326 --> 00:07:14.245 on consumer-driven, high-deductible models creates a political and regulatory climate 00:07:14.646 --> 00:07:19.116 that could eventually pressure the FEHB program, potentially shifting even greater 00:07:19.116 --> 00:07:23.965 financial responsibility onto federal employees and retirees, particularly 00:07:23.965 --> 00:07:26.765 those requiring complex or chronic care. 00:07:27.451 --> 00:07:30.102 Post-Shutdown Recovery and Pay Implementation 00:07:30.746 --> 00:07:36.036 Following the enactment of the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2026 on November 12, 00:07:36.175 --> 00:07:43.025 2025, the government resumed operations, funded through January 30, 2026. 00:07:43.635 --> 00:07:46.996 A major administrative priority during this week was the immediate 00:07:47.026 --> 00:07:52.686 implementation of Section 116 of the Act, which provides retroactive pay 00:07:52.686 --> 00:07:57.266 to all federal civilian employees affected by the lapse in appropriations 00:07:57.465 --> 00:07:59.965 that began on October 1, 2025. 00:08:00.065 --> 00:08:04.086 This mandate covers both employees who were furloughed and those 00:08:04.086 --> 00:08:07.685 who performed excepted work activities during the shutdown. 00:08:08.295 --> 00:08:13.735 OPM directed agencies to prioritize the timely provision of this retroactive pay. 00:08:14.335 --> 00:08:18.985 Furthermore, OPM recognized the potential difficulty employees might face in 00:08:18.985 --> 00:08:23.706 immediately returning to work following the lengthy lapse and advised agencies 00:08:23.706 --> 00:08:27.705 to consider the use of appropriate flexibilities, such as adjusting 00:08:27.705 --> 00:08:32.205 work schedules or approving personal leave, consistent with mission needs. 00:08:32.315 --> 00:08:36.256 This guidance aimed to ease the transition back to full operational 00:08:36.256 --> 00:08:38.565 status for the entire workforce. 00:08:39.231 --> 00:08:41.672 Issues That Affect Retired Federal Workers 00:08:42.286 --> 00:08:45.305 The 2026 FERS Cost-of-Living Adjustment 00:08:45.909 --> 00:08:50.470 For federal retirees, the most significant news this week regarding annuity income 00:08:50.740 --> 00:08:55.430 relates to the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for the 2026 calendar year. 00:08:56.069 --> 00:09:01.359 The 2026 FERS COLA adjustment has been finalized at 2.0%, 00:09:01.770 --> 00:09:05.589 effective with annuity payments beginning in January 2026. 00:09:06.254 --> 00:09:10.184 The adjustment for FERS retirees is governed by specific legislative 00:09:10.184 --> 00:09:14.424 constraints based on the rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage 00:09:14.424 --> 00:09:17.863 Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). 00:09:19.073 --> 00:09:23.654 The 2026 COLA calculation utilized the average CPI-W from the 00:09:23.654 --> 00:09:27.783 third quarter of 2025 relative to the third quarter of 2024. 00:09:28.404 --> 00:09:31.853 Critically, FERS retirees are subject to a formula that caps the 00:09:31.853 --> 00:09:35.794 increase when inflation is moderate: if the calculated CPI-W quarterly 00:09:35.794 --> 00:09:37.804 average increase is between 2.0% 00:09:37.804 --> 00:09:38.834 and 3.0%, 00:09:39.253 --> 00:09:42.544 the actual FERS benefit increase is capped at 2.0%. 00:09:43.330 --> 00:09:45.660 When comparing this modest 2.0% 00:09:45.660 --> 00:09:49.649 increase in retirement income to the concurrent 12.3% 00:09:49.649 --> 00:09:54.670 average increase in FEHB premiums, a stark fiscal reality emerges. 00:09:55.370 --> 00:09:59.659 For many FERS annuitants, who typically rely on their annuity and Social Security 00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:04.120 benefits as primary income streams, the benefit increase is mathematically 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:08.320 insufficient to cover the escalating cost of their federal health insurance alone. 00:10:08.390 --> 00:10:12.130 This disparity results in a net effective reduction in the purchasing 00:10:12.130 --> 00:10:17.489 power of the retiree’s fixed income, forcing difficult budgetary decisions 00:10:17.489 --> 00:10:19.430 during the ongoing Open Season. 00:10:20.046 --> 00:10:24.796 In related news concerning financial flexibility for retirees, the Social 00:10:24.796 --> 00:10:29.775 Security Administration announced updated earnings limits for 2026. 00:10:30.296 --> 00:10:33.796 For those workers younger than full retirement age, the earnings 00:10:33.796 --> 00:10:37.526 limit will increase to $24,480. 00:10:38.065 --> 00:10:41.705 This is relevant for retirees who choose to supplement their annuities 00:10:41.705 --> 00:10:45.215 through part-time employment, offering them a higher threshold 00:10:45.215 --> 00:10:46.916 before their benefits are reduced. 00:10:47.463 --> 00:10:50.374 Thrift Savings Plan Updates and SECURE 2.0 00:10:50.374 --> 00:10:51.334 Implementation 00:10:51.961 --> 00:10:56.292 The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) continues to issue guidance concerning the 00:10:56.292 --> 00:10:58.631 implementation of the SECURE 2.0 00:10:58.631 --> 00:11:02.921 Act, with major changes set to impact those nearing retirement. 00:11:03.474 --> 00:11:05.773 Mandatory Roth Catch-Up Contributions 00:11:06.339 --> 00:11:11.879 A provision set to take effect on January 1, 2026, dictates that participants 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:16.810 eligible to make catch-up contributions whose prior year Medicare wages (those 00:11:16.810 --> 00:11:23.160 earned in 2025) exceed the IRS threshold for TSP-eligible positions must designate 00:11:23.160 --> 00:11:26.160 those contributions as Roth (after-tax). 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:30.049 If an affected participant eligible for catch-up contributions holds 00:11:30.049 --> 00:11:34.310 elections directed toward their Traditional (pre-tax) TSP balance, those 00:11:34.310 --> 00:11:38.829 elections will automatically switch to Roth TSP contributions once the 00:11:38.829 --> 00:11:41.049 annual elective deferral limit is met. 00:11:41.794 --> 00:11:46.923 This rule change requires urgent planning, particularly for high-earning current 00:11:46.923 --> 00:11:49.474 employees intending to retire soon. 00:11:49.954 --> 00:11:55.014 The determination of whether this rule applies in 2026 is based on wages 00:11:55.014 --> 00:11:57.754 earned during the 2025 calendar year. 00:11:58.313 --> 00:12:02.983 Participants who fail to proactively adjust their tax strategy for 2026 00:12:03.364 --> 00:12:07.524 may find their savings shifted from the Traditional balance, which defers 00:12:07.524 --> 00:12:12.094 taxes until retirement, to the Roth balance, which requires taxes to be 00:12:12.094 --> 00:12:14.354 paid on the contribution immediately. 00:12:14.804 --> 00:12:19.074 This shift fundamentally alters the tax profile of their near-term savings. 00:12:19.675 --> 00:12:22.165 Investment and Withdrawal Clarifications 00:12:22.757 --> 00:12:27.077 The TSP also provided clarity on other matters relevant to retirees 00:12:27.077 --> 00:12:28.628 and those nearing retirement. 00:12:29.137 --> 00:12:33.967 As planned, the L 2025 Fund, having reached its target date, has been 00:12:33.967 --> 00:12:37.627 rolled into the L Income Fund, the most conservative allocation 00:12:37.627 --> 00:12:39.467 for the Lifecycle fund series. 00:12:40.118 --> 00:12:44.377 Furthermore, the TSP reiterated the status of the 10% early 00:12:44.377 --> 00:12:48.798 withdrawal penalty exemption for qualified public safety employees. 00:12:49.257 --> 00:12:54.548 This exemption remains in effect for tax year 2023 and later, ensuring that if 00:12:54.548 --> 00:12:59.597 a public safety employee separates from service with 25 years of service, their 00:12:59.597 --> 00:13:05.038 distributions will not be subject to the 10% early withdrawal penalty, even if 00:13:05.038 --> 00:13:07.347 they separate before reaching age 50. 00:13:08.133 --> 00:13:10.703 Issues That Affect Current Federal Workers 00:13:11.307 --> 00:13:15.688 The 2026 Pay Structure: Targeted Increases and General Freeze 00:13:16.285 --> 00:13:21.576 The pay structure for General Schedule (GS) employees in 2026, stemming from 00:13:21.576 --> 00:13:26.896 the President's Alternative Pay Plan issued on August 28, 2025, contrasts 00:13:26.896 --> 00:13:29.066 sharply with the statutory formula. 00:13:29.535 --> 00:13:33.596 The Alternative Pay Plan announces a decision to provide a 1.0% 00:13:33.596 --> 00:13:40.176 base increase for 2026, while otherwise freezing locality rates at 2025 levels. 00:13:40.843 --> 00:13:43.724 This aggregate increase falls substantially below the raise 00:13:43.724 --> 00:13:45.633 required under standard pay law. 00:13:46.443 --> 00:13:47.803 Based on the 3.8% 00:13:47.803 --> 00:13:51.213 increase in the Employment Cost Index (ECI) observed in September 00:13:51.213 --> 00:13:57.113 2024, the statutory base increase for 2026 would have been 3.3%. 00:13:58.174 --> 00:13:59.803 By providing a 1.0% 00:13:59.803 --> 00:14:03.144 base increase and freezing locality pay, the administration is 00:14:03.144 --> 00:14:07.383 effectively implementing a pay raise that falls significantly short of 00:14:07.383 --> 00:14:11.683 the increase required to maintain parity with the private sector. 00:14:12.461 --> 00:14:15.441 Strategic Pay Prioritization for Law Enforcement 00:14:16.019 --> 00:14:20.519 In a move that signals a significant shift toward segmented compensation, the 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:26.540 President directed OPM to use special salary rate authority (under 5 U.S.C. 00:14:26.540 --> 00:14:30.150 5305) to provide an additional approximate 2.8% 00:14:30.150 --> 00:14:34.039 pay increase for certain front-line Law Enforcement Officials (LEOs). 00:14:34.629 --> 00:14:38.100 The goal of this targeted use of special salary rates is to align 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:41.199 the LEO pay increase with the 3.8% 00:14:41.199 --> 00:14:44.059 military pay increase planned for 2026. 00:14:44.925 --> 00:14:50.146 Special salary rates are typically established by OPM to counter existing 00:14:50.146 --> 00:14:54.515 or anticipated recruitment and retention challenges due to factors 00:14:54.515 --> 00:14:58.696 such as higher non-federal pay rates or undesirable working conditions. 00:14:59.345 --> 00:15:03.186 OPM specifically cited that certain front-line LEOs are "critical 00:15:03.186 --> 00:15:06.076 to implementing the President's strategy to secure the border," 00:15:06.465 --> 00:15:08.686 justifying this targeted increase. 00:15:08.785 --> 00:15:12.965 This approach demonstrates a deliberate strategy of prioritizing compensation 00:15:12.965 --> 00:15:17.666 rewards for specific, mission-critical groups, resulting in a fractured pay 00:15:17.666 --> 00:15:21.555 landscape where the vast majority of the General Schedule workforce 00:15:21.826 --> 00:15:26.116 receives a low, non-competitive increase, while select groups receive 00:15:26.116 --> 00:15:28.495 an increase aimed at competitive parity. 00:15:28.995 --> 00:15:33.945 This fragmentation risks exacerbating retention challenges in agencies and 00:15:33.945 --> 00:15:36.506 job categories deemed non-priority. 00:15:37.121 --> 00:15:40.361 Workforce Restructuring and Headcount Accountability 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:44.999 The executive branch is now moving to institutionalize long-term workforce 00:15:44.999 --> 00:15:49.609 reductions through administrative guidance issued by OPM and the Office 00:15:49.609 --> 00:15:51.699 of Management and Budget (OMB). 00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:57.550 Following President Trump's Executive Order 14356, the guidance was 00:15:57.550 --> 00:16:01.490 released to ensure accountability and discipline in federal hiring. 00:16:01.750 --> 00:16:06.400 OPM Director Scott Kupor noted that the purpose of the new executive order is 00:16:06.400 --> 00:16:10.980 to build on the administration’s success in meeting and exceeding the goal of 00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:14.199 four reductions for every one new hire. 00:16:15.229 --> 00:16:19.679 Official figures indicate that the government hired approximately 68,000 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:25.249 people this year, while approximately 317,000 employees left the government. 00:16:25.857 --> 00:16:28.887 The new guidance requires all executive agency heads to 00:16:28.887 --> 00:16:33.378 submit Annual Staffing Plans and quarterly updates to OPM and OMB. 00:16:33.977 --> 00:16:37.758 The stated goals are to ensure that headcount resources focus on the most 00:16:37.758 --> 00:16:43.717 critical objectives, deliver maximum value to the taxpayer, and eliminate wasteful 00:16:43.717 --> 00:16:48.537 expenses in areas that are inefficient or contradict administration priorities. 00:16:49.133 --> 00:16:51.113 Politicization of Hiring Decisions 00:16:51.707 --> 00:16:55.887 A key element of this restructuring is the mandate for agencies to 00:16:55.887 --> 00:16:58.417 establish Strategic Hiring Committees. 00:16:59.178 --> 00:17:03.018 This measure ensures that new career appointments are consistent 00:17:03.088 --> 00:17:06.018 with the national interest and administration priorities. 00:17:06.947 --> 00:17:11.567 By placing "Democratically accountable agency leadership" at the table for 00:17:11.567 --> 00:17:15.588 hiring decisions, the administration is shifting control over staffing 00:17:15.588 --> 00:17:20.278 away from traditional human resources practices and toward political alignment, 00:17:20.377 --> 00:17:24.708 ensuring that the previously achieved workforce reductions will endure. 00:17:25.303 --> 00:17:29.303 This policy is being implemented while OPM publicly emphasizes 00:17:29.303 --> 00:17:32.983 the scale of the government’s external contractor infrastructure. 00:17:33.614 --> 00:17:37.093 OPM estimates there are at least two times the number of contractors 00:17:37.093 --> 00:17:41.154 employed as full-time employees (FTEs), costing the government 00:17:41.154 --> 00:17:44.464 approximately $750 billion annually. 00:17:45.204 --> 00:17:48.903 The focus on aggressive reduction of the civilian employee count, while 00:17:48.903 --> 00:17:53.473 acknowledging the massive cost and reliance on contractors for specialized 00:17:53.473 --> 00:17:58.633 or temporary labor, suggests a policy direction aimed at shrinking the permanent 00:17:58.633 --> 00:18:03.293 civil service core while maintaining flexibility through external support. 00:18:03.915 --> 00:18:07.126 Legislative Battle over Collective Bargaining Rights 00:18:07.703 --> 00:18:11.324 A critical legislative maneuver just preceding this reporting week 00:18:11.594 --> 00:18:15.834 sets the stage for a potential shift in federal labor relations. 00:18:16.453 --> 00:18:20.124 A bipartisan coalition of House lawmakers successfully completed 00:18:20.124 --> 00:18:25.094 a discharge petition on November 18, 2025, securing the necessary 00:18:25.094 --> 00:18:29.774 signatures to force a floor vote on the Protect America’s Workforce Act (H.R. 00:18:29.774 --> 00:18:30.903 2550). 00:18:31.627 --> 00:18:32.097 H.R. 00:18:32.097 --> 00:18:36.727 2550, introduced by Representatives Jared Golden (D-Maine) and 00:18:36.727 --> 00:18:38.377 Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), 00:18:38.868 --> 00:18:43.388 aims to nullify a pair of executive orders issued by President Trump that cited 00:18:43.388 --> 00:18:48.108 national security to strip collective bargaining rights from an estimated 00:18:48.108 --> 00:18:50.178 two-thirds of the federal workforce. 00:18:50.907 --> 00:18:54.838 These executive orders impacted numerous agencies, including NASA 00:18:54.907 --> 00:18:56.487 and federal weather agencies. 00:18:56.967 --> 00:19:00.417 Although the orders have been tied up in litigation, with previous broad 00:19:00.417 --> 00:19:04.838 court relief subsequently stayed, this successful discharge petition 00:19:05.018 --> 00:19:08.867 represents a high-stakes legislative challenge to the administration’s 00:19:08.867 --> 00:19:10.957 core workforce management strategy. 00:19:11.678 --> 00:19:16.288 The outcome of the forced House vote, expected to occur within or immediately 00:19:16.288 --> 00:19:20.558 following this reporting period, will determine the near-term legal status of 00:19:20.558 --> 00:19:25.227 collective bargaining rights for wide segments of the current federal workforce. 00:19:26.042 --> 00:19:28.972 And that’s a wrap on this week’s Federal Workforce Roundup. 00:19:29.501 --> 00:19:33.582 The landscape for federal employees and retirees is constantly shifting, 00:19:33.941 --> 00:19:38.212 with major decisions being made about everything from pay and job security 00:19:38.582 --> 00:19:42.772 to retirement benefits and the very structure of the civil service. 00:19:43.301 --> 00:19:45.631 Staying informed is your best tool. 00:19:46.012 --> 00:19:50.631 Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an update. 00:19:51.289 --> 00:19:52.370 Thanks for tuning in. 00:19:52.689 --> 00:19:55.399 We’ll be back next week to track the latest developments 00:19:55.529 --> 00:19:56.740 and what they mean for you. 00:19:57.060 --> 00:20:00.110 Until then, stay engaged and be well.