I Fund Dominance Continues: TSP Kicks Off 2026 with Global Gains
Every TSP fund posted gains in January 2026, led again by international markets. What a sustained I Fund run means for the way your money is allocated
Federal Employee Resource Blog — page 17
House Considers Raising Buyout Cap to Six Months’ Salary
The House Oversight Committee is weighing H.R. 7256, which would modernize federal buyout incentives. Where the bill stands and who would benefit most
Grade Inflation is Over: OPM Mandates “Forced Distributions” for All Employees in 2026
Forced rating distributions are coming to the whole federal workforce, not just the SES. How quotas change what your performance appraisal is worth.
3.8% Pay Raise Extended to More Law Enforcement Officers—Is ATC Next?
OPM has widened the 3.8 percent targeted raise to more law enforcement officers while most feds get 1 percent. Whether air traffic controllers are nex
DEA & FBI Senior Execs: The “Safety Net” Just Vanished
A federal appeals court has held that the MSPB does not protect DEA and FBI senior executives as assumed. What SES members at both agencies should kno
Grade Inflation is Over: OPM Mandates “Forced Distributions” for All Employees in 2026
OPM Director Scott Kupor has confirmed that strict SES rating caps now apply across the federal workforce. What that means for your 2026 appraisal.
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
DEA & FBI Senior Execs: The “Safety Net” Just Vanished
If you are SES at the DEA or FBI, a federal appeals court has just narrowed the protection you thought you had. What the ruling actually decided.
DoD Telework Audit Reveals 245% Data Gap: Why Your Locality Pay Might Be at Risk
A DoD Inspector General audit found a 245 percent gap in how remote employees are tracked and paid. Why your locality pay could be caught up in it.
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.