The FED Weekly

We recap key developments for federal employees and retirees for the week of June 28 to July 4, 2026. Major regulatory changes include a new OPM rule implementing stricter verification for family member eligibility in health benefits, projected to save millions by curbing improper payments. President Trump signed an executive order mandating the shift to post-quantum cryptography for federal syste...

The conversation focused on key federal workforce developments for the week of June 21–27, 2026. One concept discussed was the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) expanded health data collection, which raised significant privacy concerns from lawmakers and advocacy groups due to potential HIPAA risks and OPM’s history of data breaches. The discussion explored major legislative news, including t...

Major updates include strict new eligibility verification requirements for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, set to begin July 1, and a looming audit to remove ineligible dependents. Rising health insurance premiums are straining both active and retired employees, with many survivors now facing “negative net annuities,” in which pension payments don’t cover health insurance premiums....

The conversation focused on key updates affecting federal employees and retirees during the week of June 7–13, 2026. One concept discussed was the accelerated depletion date for the Social Security Trust Fund, now projected for 2032, which could trigger 22–28% benefit cuts if Congress fails to act. A key theme that emerged was the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act, which fully rep...

This episode of The FED Weekly covers major developments impacting federal employees and retirees for the week of February 8-14, 2026. Key topics include the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security after Congress failed to pass a funding bill, which left essential staff unpaid and sparked a major union lawsuit. The episode also reports on the end of a ban on federal workforce reduc...

This episode of The FED Weekly delivers comprehensive updates for federal employees and retirees for the week of May 24-30, 2026. We report exceptional growth in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), led by the International I Fund, but caution that retirees may not see the expected tax reductions. A major Supreme Court decision in Margollin v. National Association of Immigration Judges restricts federal...

The conversation focused on key legislative, regulatory, and operational developments affecting federal employees and retirees for the week of May 17–23, 2026. Several points were raised, including congressional efforts to address tax burdens associated with retroactive lump-sum payments and proposals to reform Social Security taxation. The discussion explored ongoing debates about pension taxatio...

We deliver the latest updates affecting federal employees and retirees for the week of 10-16 May 2026. The Senate approved a rule to withhold Senators’ pay during future shutdowns, echoing concerns about the disconnect between lawmakers and affected federal workers. Ongoing shutdowns caused a significant backlog in retirement claims. A new TIGTA report highlighted rising federal employee tax delin...

In this episode, we cover the latest developments impacting federal employees and retirees for the week of May 3–9, 2026. The episode spotlights Public Service Recognition Week, overshadowed by controversy over the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) new data policy requiring insurance carriers to submit unredacted medical records, raising privacy and HIPAA concerns from lawmakers and advocacy...

Here is the weekly briefing for federal employees and retirees, covering April 26 to May 2, 2026. TSP portfolios rebounded in April after a tough start to the year, with the C Fund leading gains. The House Committee on Oversight advanced nine anti-fraud bills, targeting $186 billion in improper payments reported in 2025. A new report highlighted workforce reform costs and declining federal employe...

This week’s episode of The FED Weekly covers the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, now the longest in history at 68 days, triggered by Congressional disputes over immigration agency reforms. Severe operational impacts include staff shortages and a lack of basic supplies. A Senate budget resolution may end the shutdown by mid-May. The Postal Service’s suspension of retirement fund c...

In this episode of The FED Weekly, we cover major developments affecting federal employees and retirees for the week of April 12–18, 2026. Key highlights include the impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which permanently extends tax cuts, increases standard deductions, raises the SALT cap, and introduces new tax benefits and savings accounts for federal families. The episode details rising c...

In this episode of The FED Weekly, we cover key developments affecting federal employees and retirees for the week of April 5–11, 2026. Major news includes an OPM proposal requiring insurers to submit personally identifiable health data, sparking privacy and legal concerns about HIPAA compliance and fears of data misuse. For retirees, missed deadlines for Medicare General Enrollment and Required M...

This episode of The FED Weekly covers key updates impacting federal employees and retirees from March 29 to April 4, 2026. The most significant development is the Merit Systems Protection Board’s (MSPB) new regulation eliminating appeals for job reclassifications into the Schedule PC category, reducing job security for federal workers 00:44. Additionally, federal health benefits are facing scrutin...

This episode covers key developments affecting federal employees and retirees for the week of March 22–28, 2026. We detail the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, ongoing since October 2025, and the Senate’s tentative deal to fund DHS through September, which faces resistance in the House due to disputes over border security funding 01:22. Legislative remedies to mitigate shutdown impacts ar...

In this episode of The FED Weekly, we cover essential updates for federal employees and retirees for March 15-21, 2026. Key highlights include the Social Security Administration’s completion of $17 billion in retroactive payments after the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, boosting lifetime benefits for many public servants. Sunshine Week spotlighted trans...

This episode of The FED Weekly covers the week of March 8-14, 2026, spotlighting critical updates for federal employees and retirees. Key topics include a major data breach involving the Social Security Administration, raising alarms about personal data security, and the risk of identity theft. Lawrence reviews new Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) performance data, highlighting strong gains for internati...

In this episode of The FED Weekly, we cover critical updates for federal employees and retirees during March 1–7, 2026. The ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, now in its third week, has left thousands without pay, heightening concerns over operational security and worker well-being. Legislative efforts like the Shutdown Fairness Act and full DHS funding are in focus. For retirees, t...

This episode of The FED Weekly covers major developments from February 22-28, 2026, impacting both current and retired federal employees. Key topics include the ongoing partial shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security, which has disrupted agency operations and pay for thousands of essential workers, and new data on Thrift Savings Plan investment gains and the introduction of a Roth in-plan...

We cover the latest developments impacting federal employees and retirees. The episode details the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, highlighting the uncertainty over back pay for furloughed workers due to a recent change in OPM guidance. Updates include a legislative push to expand fertility coverage in FEHB and PSHB plans, as well as the first baseline for the 2027 retirement COL...

This episode of The FED Weekly covers major developments impacting federal employees and retirees for the week of February 8-14, 2026. Key topics include the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security after Congress failed to pass a funding bill, which left essential staff unpaid and sparked a major union lawsuit. The episode also reports on the end of a ban on federal workforce reduc...

In this episode of The FED Weekly, we deliver a comprehensive update on federal workforce developments for the week of February 1-7, 2026. Key highlights include President Trump signing the $1.2 trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act, ending the partial government shutdown, and stabilizing government operations—though DHS funding remains temporarily unresolved. Federal civilian workers received...

This episode of The FED Weekly covers the biggest federal workforce updates for January 25–31, 2026. The U.S. government entered a partial shutdown after Congress missed the funding deadline, with several agencies experiencing operational paralysis while retirement payments remain unaffected. The episode dives into issues around workforce reduction—over 317,000 jobs lost last year, revised COLA in...

In this episode of The FED Weekly, we cover key developments for federal employees and retirees from January 18–24, 2026. The Office of Personnel Management confirmed a modest 1.0% pay raise for federal workers, while locality pay rates remain frozen. The House passed major spending bills, including provisions to extend Medicare telehealth and reform pharmacy benefit managers. Retirees saw updates...

In this episode of The FED Weekly, we review key developments for federal employees and retirees during mid-January 2026. Highlights include the House passing vital agency funding bills, new protections to ensure federal pay during shutdowns, and a crackdown on improper payments to deceased individuals. The implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act brings retroactive benefit payments to m...