The FED Weekly

This week, the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program announced a historic 13.5% premium hike for 2025—significantly outpacing proposed federal pay raises and eroding purchasing power for employees and retirees. Expanded IVF and anti-obesity drug coverage are driving up costs. In retirement news, the Thrift Savings Plan topped $1 trillion in assets, showcasing strong investment returns despite increased market dependence for future security. The newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act brings selective tax relief for seniors and overtime earners, but also tightens SNAP eligibility, potentially harming low-income federal families. Executive action by President Trump banned collective bargaining at more agencies, igniting legal battles and intensifying fights over union rights. Meanwhile, the administration proposed just a 1% general pay raise (with a larger increase for law enforcement), further restricted telework, and introduced hiring reforms favoring ideological alignment. The federal workforce continued shrinking due to mass layoffs, with contrasting bills in Congress reflecting the divided outlook for pay, performance, and the core principles of federal employment. (00:00) - Introduction and Overview (00:44) - Issues That Affect Current and Retired Federal Workers (03:33) - Thrift Savings Plan Milestone (05:20) - Legislative Updates and Tax Provisions (07:15) - Union Conflicts and Legal Battles (09:23) - Issues That Affect Retired Federal Workers (11:04) - Social Security Overpayment Policy (12:04) - Issues That Affect Current Federal Workers (12:08) - 2026 Pay Proposal and Workforce Reforms (16:51) - Pending Legislation and Future Outlook (18:04) - Conclusion and Wrap-Up

In this week’s episode of The FED Weekly, Lawrence covers urgent updates for federal employees and retirees. The 2025 Federal Employees Health Benefits Program premiums are set to rise by a historic 13.5%, the most significant increase in almost 20 years, while dental and vision plan hikes are more moderate. With government funding still stalled in Congress and a potential government shutdown looming, federal workers face job uncertainty and possible income disruption, though annuity and Social Security payments will continue. The projected 2026 COLA suggests a 2.5–2.6% increase for CSRS retirees and a capped 2% for most FERS retirees. New bipartisan legislation (the FORWARD Act) aims to let certain military retirees and disabled veterans contribute to Thrift Savings Plan accounts post-service.Meanwhile, the President’s 2026 budget proposes just a 1% pay raise for civilian employees, with 3.8% targeted for some law enforcement—drawing union criticism. OPM is overhauling performance awards to reward top performers more heavily. Updates also include the IRS reversing layoff plans, clarification on probation periods, and the status of retirement and pay-performance reform bills. The episode encourages listeners to stay informed about these fast-changing federal policies.

This episode of The FED Weekly covers crucial updates for federal employees and retirees for August 17-23, 2025. Host Lawrence outlines the impending 2026 pay freeze, significant increases in FEHB health insurance premiums, and the removal of gender-affirming care coverage from all federal health plans starting in 2026. The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act introduces several new tax deductions, but won’t fully counterbalance the financial strain from pay and benefit changes. The episode also notes the controversial cancellation of the 2025 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, a dramatic reversal at the IRS from mass layoffs to emergency rehiring, and strengthened probationary periods for new hires. Lawrence discusses the government’s push toward AI-driven workforce solutions, the dismantling of existing innovation hubs, and pending legislation affecting pay, telework, and union rights. For retirees, the projected 2026 COLA is 2.7%, but FERS retirees will receive a lower “diet” adjustment. The episode concludes with advice for senior annuitants to ensure they’ve claimed Social Security benefits.

With Congress adjourning for the August recess, a government shutdown looms as key budget bills remain unresolved. Divided proposals over federal spending heighten uncertainty, threatening paychecks and agency services. Major union battles escalate, including terminations of collective bargaining agreements at the VA and EPA, while unions mobilize to protect worker rights and challenge policies undermining civil service protections. The 2026 federal pay raise remains uncertain, facing a proposed pay freeze for civilian employees and competing legislative proposals. OPM issues new guidance on performance awards and probationary periods, prioritizing high performance and accountability. Retiree COLA projections show moderate increases for 2026, and OPM advances efforts to implement a fully digital retirement process aimed at easing administrative backlogs. Overall, the episode highlights deepening challenges to federal labor rights, pay, and workforce stability. (00:00) - Introduction: Welcome to The FED Weekly (00:44) - Issues That Affect Current and Retired Federal Workers (00:49) - Government Funding Uncertainty and Potential Shutdowns (03:04) - Challenges to Federal Employee Union Rights and Civil Service Integrity (06:38) - GAO Report on OPM Priority Open Recommendations (07:53) - Issues That Affect Current Federal Workers (07:57) - 2026 Federal Employee Pay Raise Outlook and Legislative Proposals (10:27) - New OPM Guidance on Performance Awards and Management (13:01) - Updated Guidance on Strengthening Probationary Periods in the Federal Service (14:24) - Major Union Contract Terminations and Legal Battles (19:22) - GAO Report on Federal Workforce Name Change Process (20:32) - Issues That Affect Retired Federal Workers (20:36) - 2026 Retiree Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Projections (22:10) - Ongoing Transition to Fully Digital Retirement Process (24:31) - Conclusion: Wrap-Up and Staying Informed

This episode of The FED Weekly covers major updates affecting federal employees and retirees for August 3-9, 2025. Key topics include OPM’s directive to remove COVID-19 vaccine records from personnel files, new legislation to protect employee access to personnel files, and revised rules for probationary periods that make it easier to terminate new hires. Legal setbacks for federal unions are discussed, along with union-led resistance to proposed cuts and privatization at NASA and USDA, which unions argue threaten job security and public services. Updates for retirees focus on FERS changes: a larger-than-usual COLA, a slight boost to the annuity formula for long-term service, and possible adjustments to retirement eligibility, especially for employees with under 20 years’ service. Guidance on deferred resignation and its interplay with retirement is also covered. The episode highlights an environment of administrative change, union pushback, and ongoing legislative and legal battles that federal workers and retirees should closely monitor.

This episode of The FED Weekly covers key policy updates impacting federal employees and retirees for the week of July 27 to August 2, 2025. Major tax changes from the Big Beautiful Bill Act, including adjustments to federal tax rates, deductions for seniors, and new credits for overtime and family leave. The episode examines President Trump’s Executive Order 14319 on “Preventing Woke AI,” which sets strict ideological neutrality standards for federal AI procurement, and recent OPM guidance reinforcing religious expression rights in the workplace. For retirees, the show notes relative stability in direct benefits but warns of possible indirect impacts from broader healthcare legislation. On current workforce issues, the episode covers a memorandum restricting federal hiring, effectively slowing workforce growth amid ongoing reductions in force, and discusses the Federal Employee Return to Work Act s.27, which seeks to reduce locality pay for teleworking employees, aiming to incentivize in-person work. Lastly, the IRS’s recognition of National Whistleblower Day is noted as a sign of commitment to accountability during a period of increased scrutiny. The episode emphasizes the importance of staying informed amid rapidly changing policies.

This is your essential briefing for the week of 20-26 July 2025. It has been a watershed week for the federal civil service. A landmark Supreme Court decision has fully unleashed the administration's workforce reduction plans, and a stunning court filing has revealed exactly which offices are in the crosshairs. Meanwhile, the massive "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" is now law, and while the worst fears about retirement cuts were not realized, its passage has sent shockwaves through the federal community. We'll break down what this all means for you, whether you’re currently serving or enjoying a hard-earned retirement. We'll also dissect three new bills in Congress that could fundamentally change how you are paid, where you work, and how your performance is measured. (00:00) - The FED Weekly 20-26 Jul 2025 (Episode 8) (00:44) - Section 1: Issues That Affect Current and Retired Federal Workers (05:41) - Section 2: Issues That Affect Current Federal Workers (09:48) - Legislative Proposals: Reshaping Federal Employment (13:31) - OPM's New Rule: A Win for Employee Pay Rights (14:38) - Section 3: Issues That Affect Retired Federal Workers (17:44) - Conclusion: Staying Informed and Engaged

This week, the foundations of the federal civil service experienced seismic shocks. A landmark Supreme Court decision effectively dismantled long-standing job protections, unleashing a wave of workforce reduction actions across multiple agencies. Simultaneously, the administration advanced a legal theory of "at-will" employment and created new hiring authorities that could fundamentally alter the non-partisan nature of government work. For both current and retired employees, this turmoil was compounded by critical economic forecasts for 2026, revealing a looming financial squeeze where modest benefit adjustments are poised to be consumed by sharply rising healthcare costs. This report will dissect these interconnected events, providing a comprehensive analysis of a week that will undoubtedly be remembered as a turning point for the federal workforce.(00:00) - Introduction: Your Weekly Federal Briefing (00:40) - Economic and Healthcare Developments for Federal Workers (04:09) - FEHB Program: Costs and Changes in 2026 (06:44) - TSP Updates for All Participants (07:52) - Civil Service Protections Under Threat (10:35) - Workforce Reductions and Pay Uncertainty (15:38) - Financial and Healthcare News for Retirees (19:40) - Conclusion: Stay Informed and Engaged Reply on Bluesky

The second week of July 2025 brought seismic shifts to the U.S. federal workforce, marked by a coordinated effort to reshape the civil service. A landmark Supreme Court ruling on July 8 cleared the way for the administration to proceed with mass layoffs, known as Reductions-in-Force (RIFs), across the government.President Trump signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBB) on July 4. While severe proposed cuts to Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) benefits, such as increased contributions and moving from a high-3 to high-5 annuity calculation, were excluded from the final bill , the OBBB’s passage made a 2026 civilian pay freeze highly probable, as it included no provision for a raise. The OBBB did introduce benefit enhancements, including expanded Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and increased Dependent Care FSA limits starting in 2026.Scott Kupor was confirmed as the new OPM Director. OPM is implementing a drastic overhaul of performance management, encouraging 30-day Performance Improvement Plans and expediting removals, weakening job protections. Additionally, a government-wide executive order is mandating a full return to the office, ending expanded telework. Retirees face a steep 13.5% average increase in 2025 FEHB premiums.

During the week of June 29 to July 5, 2025, major federal legislative developments preserved key benefits for current and retired federal employees. The Senate version of H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” removed all proposed cuts to pensions and health benefits previously included in the House version, including elimination of the FERS supplement and shifting annuity calculations to a “high-5” salary basis. NARFE declared this a victory for federal workers and retirees. Additionally, the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), which repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), has increased Social Security benefits for over 2.8 million affected retirees, with back payments issued to January 2024.On the workforce front, job changes slowed, a DoD pay freeze affected 60,000 blue-collar workers due to suspended wage panels, and controversial hiring questions were dropped from applications. A court also blocked an executive order aiming to strip union rights from federal employees. The Federal Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 1522) was reintroduced to allow service credit purchases for prior noncareer work. For retirees, no changes were made to FEHBP or survivor benefits, and OPM’s digital retirement system, launching mid-July, aims to reduce processing delays.

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: June 15–21, 2025 report highlights significant developments impacting federal employees and retirees. A major focus is the Senate’s draft of a budget reconciliation bill that preserves controversial measures requiring new federal employees to either pay a higher retirement contribution or forfeit civil service protections. While some proposed retirement cuts were removed—like the switch to a “high-5” pension calculation and elimination of the FERS annuity supplement—provisions granting the President expansive authority to reorganize agencies remain. Federal employee unions have sharply criticized the bill, calling it a threat to merit-based service.In a legal victory, a federal court blocked OPM from sharing personnel data with the new Department of Government Efficiency, citing privacy concerns. Meanwhile, OPM has rolled back telework policies and implemented stricter performance standards across federal agencies.The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense are both undergoing large-scale workforce reductions, despite union warnings of negative impacts. At the same time, a Supreme Court ruling expanded differential pay rights for federal reservists, potentially triggering new back pay claims.For retirees, the Social Security Fairness Act's repeal of the WEP and GPO is being implemented, increasing benefits for millions. The Senate’s decision not to include further retirement cuts offers temporary relief to retirees, although advocacy groups remain cautious about future legislative risks.

Welcome to the Federal Workforce Roundup, 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 first week of June 2025 brought several important developments for the federal community. Below is a roundup of key news affecting U.S. federal employees and retirees, organized by category for clarity.