The Telework Tug-of-War: Arbitrator Rules Against IRS Offsite Work Cancellations
An arbitrator has ruled against the IRS over canceled telework agreements. What the decision signals for return-to-office mandates across federal agen
Economics
43 posts on economics, newest first.
The Approaching Fiscal Cliff: Navigating Congressional Gridlock and Budget Uncertainty
Congress is running short of time to fund the government before the fiscal year ends. What federal employees should have in place before any shutdown.
The Erosion of the FEVS: What OPM’s Proposed Survey Changes Mean for Your Career
OPM has proposed changes to the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey after canceling it in 2025. What the loss of that data means for agency accountabili
Maximizing the Momentum: TSP Stock Funds Surge in the First Half of the Year
TSP stock funds posted strong gains through the first half of the year. Why a run like this is the moment to check your allocation, not to leave it al
Strategic Realignment: How Defense Spending Bills and DWCF Staffing Caps Impact Your Civil Service Benefits
Defense authorization bills and DWCF staffing caps are reshaping the DOD civilian workforce. What the changes mean for your benefits and retirement ti
Combating the Commute: How Surging Gas Prices are Reshaping the Federal Telework Debate
Rising fuel costs have reopened the federal telework debate, with the NTEU pressing the case. What the commuting math means for your household budget.
Navigating the 3 Percent COLA Count: What the Latest Inflation Jump Means for Your Federal Retirement
The COLA count has reached 3 percent after the latest inflation reading. What the figure means for your federal annuity and your purchasing power.
The Rising Tide of Federal Tax Delinquency: Protecting Your Career and Clearance
Tax delinquency is climbing among federal employees and retirees, according to TIGTA. What it puts at risk, from your clearance to your retirement.
Protecting Your Financial Foundation: The Legislative Push to Secure Federal Employees’ Credit During Shutdowns
A legislative push would protect federal employees' credit during a shutdown. What the bill would cover and how to prepare for a lapse in appropriatio
The OPM Power Grab: How Proposed RIF Rules Threaten Federal Careers and Appeal Rights
OPM's proposed RIF rule would narrow the appeal rights federal employees have when a job is cut. What unions object to and what is genuinely at stake.
The Performance Appraisal Exemption: Navigating the New Precedent for Federal Civil Servants
OPM has exempted Schedule C and G political appointees from standard performance appraisals. Why career civil servants should watch the precedent clos
The Hidden Cost of Workforce Reductions: Navigating OPM Staff Cuts and the Federal Retirement Backlog
Cuts at OPM have created a bottleneck in retirement processing. What a growing backlog means for your interim payments and for when you choose to file
Navigating the Shift: Understanding the Q1 Drop in TSP Millionaires
The TSP millionaire count fell in the first quarter of 2026. What the drop shows about market volatility and why the number is a poor target to chase.
Navigating the 2027 COLA Projection: How the March Inflation Surge Impacts Federal Retirees
A March inflation surge has moved the 2027 COLA projection. What it means for federal retirees, and why FERS annuitants see a reduced adjustment.
The Hidden Cost of Federal Infrastructure: Navigating Escalating Hazards in the Workplace
The GSA warns that hazards in under-maintained federal buildings are escalating. What the deterioration means for the people who work in them daily.
The Forced Curve: How OPM’s Proposed Rating Quotas Could Impact Your Federal Career
OPM has proposed quotas capping how many top performance ratings an agency can award. What a forced curve would do to your appraisal and your awards.
The Impending Federal Real Estate Shakeup: Navigating Office Consolidations and Your Career
Nearly 10,000 federal offices fail current utilization standards. What consolidation of the government's real estate portfolio could mean for your job
Navigating the Federal Reshuffle: What Agency Relocations Mean for Your Career and Benefits
Agency headquarters are relocating, starting with the Forest Service. What a move means for your position, your locality pay and your retirement timin
Navigating Administrative Defiance: The VA Union Contract Stand-Off and Your Federal Benefits
The VA is at the center of one of the sharpest federal labor disputes in years. What the contract stand-off means for benefits and workplace support.
Reclaiming Stability: What the Reinstatement of USAGM Employees Means for Your Federal Career
A court ruling reinstating USAGM employees shows mass RIF notices can be reversed. What it means if your own agency is in the middle of a reorganizati
Navigating Labor Volatility: The Reinstatement of the VA Union Contract and Your Federal Benefits
A U.S. District Court has ordered the VA to reinstate its collective bargaining agreement. What the reinstatement restores, and what remains uncertain
Navigating the Storm: How IRS Staffing Reductions Impact Your Tax and Retirement Strategy
A GAO report warns on the effects of IRS staffing reductions. What slower service and thinner enforcement mean for your tax and retirement strategy.
Securing Your Future Amidst Labor Volatility: The Reinstatement of the VA Union Contract
After a court ordered the VA to restore its union contract, federal labor law looks less settled. How to plan your benefits through the volatility.
Strategic Capital Allocation: Optimizing Your TSP for the Distribution Phase
Leave the money in the TSP for its low costs, or move it for flexibility? How to think about allocation once the plan becomes your monthly paycheck.
The DHS Funding Lapse: Preparing for a Partial Paycheck and Securing Your Cash Flow
A partial shutdown at DHS began February 14, 2026 and ran into the pay period. How to prepare your cash flow for a partial paycheck and delayed back p
Anomaly in the COLA Count: FECA Beneficiaries Secure 2.6% as 2027 Retirement Projections Stall
FECA beneficiaries have secured a 2.6 percent adjustment while the 2027 retiree COLA projection stalls. Why the two figures have come apart this year.
Senate Democrats Move to Block OPM from Stripping Probationary Appeal Rights
Twelve Senate Democrats are opposing an OPM rule that would weaken appeal rights for probationary employees. What protections are at stake, and for wh
Why Standard Social Security “Optimization” Falls Short for Federal Employees
Delay until 70 is the standard Social Security advice, and it often does not fit a federal retiree with an annuity. Why the generic math breaks down.
A Staffing Crisis: 30,000 Vacancies, “Severe” Shortages, and What It Means for Your Career
The VA is carrying roughly 30,000 vacancies and severe shortages, according to its own Inspector General. What a staffing crisis means for your career
The $125 Million Rebrand: Why the DoD’s Name Change Costs More Than a Plaque
The CBO puts the cost of rebranding the Defense Department at about $125 million. Where that money goes, and what it displaces in the workforce budget
The Final Countdown: Will the Senate Beat the Jan 30 Funding Deadline?
The House has passed the spending bills to fund the government through fiscal 2026. Whether the Senate beats the January 30 deadline, and what if it m
The 50,000-Case Logjam: OPM Backlog Hits Critical Mass as Relief Bill Emerges
OPM's pending retirement inventory has passed 50,000 cases. What a backlog that size means for your wait, and what a relief bill would change.
TSP Hits $1.07 Trillion Record: Is Your Portfolio “Accidentally” Aggressive?
The TSP closed 2025 at a record $1.07 trillion. Why a bull market may have left your allocation more aggressive than you ever intended it to be.
First-Year Retirees Face Prorated COLA Reality in 2026
The 2026 COLA is 2.8 percent for CSRS, but anyone who retired during 2025 receives only part of it. How proration works and what your first raise will
1% Pay Raise Finalized for 2026: Most Feds Lose Ground While Military and LEOs See Boost
A 1 percent raise for most federal civilians sits below inflation, while military and law enforcement see more. What losing ground does to your annuit
The 1% Reality: 2026 Pay Raise Falls Short of Inflation
A 1 percent raise for 2026 does not keep pace with inflation. What a real-terms pay cut compounds into over a career, and what it does to your high-3.
The Sound of Silence: OPM Cancels 2025 FEVS, Leaving Workforce in the Dark
After a year of shutdowns, frozen pay and layoff threats, OPM canceled the 2025 employee survey. What losing that data means for agency accountability
Shutdown Pain Spreads Beyond Federal Workforce, Affecting Public Services
Four weeks into the shutdown, a new survey shows the public feeling the effects too. How the widening damage changes the politics of ending it.
How Recent Court Rulings Impact Federal Employees’ Retirement Benefits
A federal judge blocked an order limiting collective bargaining for federal workers. What continued protection means, and what it does not cover.
TSP Performance Update – What Federal Employees Should Know About C and S Fund Declines
The C Fund has slipped into negative territory year to date and the S Fund has fallen further. What a decline like this should and should not change.
Spousal Consent Is Needed for TSP Withdrawals
The TSP Modernization Act changed a great deal, but not this. FERS employees still need notarized spousal consent for withdrawals. What it requires.
2 Reasons Why S Fund Underperforming C Fund
Small-cap stocks lead early in an expansion and lag later. Two reasons the S Fund trailed the C Fund, and what that means for your own TSP mix.
Raise on the Table but Move for Freeze May Come First
A budget proposal called for a pay freeze while a raise sat on the table in Congress. How the timing of each decision affected federal pay that year.