Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (media.transistor.fm) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
In this episode of The FED Weekly, we recap significant developments for federal employees and retirees for the week of December 21–27, 2025. Key highlights include President Trump’s executive order creating a five-day federal holiday weekend, a finalized 1.0% general pay raise for most federal employees (with federal law enforcement receiving an additional adjustment), and the last steps before the Postal Service Health Benefits program launch. Lawrence also covers the substantial 12.3% health premium increases, the upcoming 2026 COLA for federal retirees, and changes in Medicare Part B premiums—warning that many retirees will see their COLA consumed by these higher costs. The episode discusses TSA’s union decertification, the hiring surge for AI and cybersecurity experts, ongoing debates over telework policies, and legislative updates, including the Shutdown Fairness Act, the Equal COLA Act, and the FAIR Act.
- (00:00) - Introduction and Overview
- (00:44) - Issues That Affect Current and Retired Federal Workers
- (01:28) - Pay and Benefits Updates for 2026
- (03:41) - Federal Budget and Shutdown Protections
- (04:45) - Healthcare Premiums and Costs
- (05:26) - Issues That Affect Retired Federal Workers
- (08:16) - Legislative Updates for Retirees
- (10:23) - Union Rights and New Hiring Initiatives
- (12:42) - Telework Policies and Pay Adjustments
- (15:24) - Conclusion and Wrap-Up