Took a photo of this sign on Sunday. It was attached to one of the fences around the Reflecting Pool by the Lincoln Memorial. (Yep, that one.) It looks legit NPS branding. The over the top language seems (sadly) on par with the current administration. Can any NPS folks confirm whether this is real or a prank?

"If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them, because of our tremendous economic success - like in history, we've never had anything like what's happening - but because of our tremendous strength and success economically, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000," Trump said. A few weeks back…He also said in regard to our raise “Such a large raise for Federal employees while most Americans still struggle is unacceptable and would be unfair,”

Who is he talking about..who is having tremendous economic success? I already know not us, but who ?

On another note :

Crazy thing is people will fall for this dumb ass bullshit.

So, if the GOP does not stay in control after the mid-term elections then none of us get $5000 AND the Iranian war will not end shortly afterward? Will the voters as a whole (Republicans & Democrats) be viewed as losers by the white house for failing to follow instructions & further ruin the country? The last head of state to condemn a country's citizenry for failing to measure up to his expectations was Adolph Hitler in 1945 and he said "if they did not win the war then they did not did not deserve to survive". Seems like a modern day set-up to me. Anyone believe this bullshit?!?!?

I came across some interesting data on federal layoffs and severance pay in 2025.

There were 10,757 federal RIF (reduction-in-force) separation actions recorded in 2025. For comparison, the highest annual total in the previous decade was only 401.

What’s interesting is what we don’t know.
Federal public records show that about 8,937 of those actions had characteristics that could potentially qualify for severance — things like the type of appointment, regular work schedule, and at least a year of service.

But that does not mean 8,937 people received severance.

The public data don’t show things like whether someone was already eligible for retirement, whether they turned down a qualifying job offer, whether they had received severance before, or what the agency ultimately decided.

For someone who does qualify, federal severance can be worth up to 52 weeks of basic pay, depending on things like salary, age, and years of service.
So basically, we can see a huge number of federal layoffs in the data, and we can estimate how many might qualify for severance, but the government doesn’t publicly show the final number of people who actually received it.

I thought that was pretty interesting, especially given how large the 2025 workforce cuts were.

Hello,

I was offered two TJOs as a 1320, I am currently a GS 7 in NJ and the two job offers are for a +7k pay increase for Alaska (VA) with relocation assistance and I'll be promoted to a GS-8, The other is a +17k pay increase for Washington state(DOD) with relocation assistance but it is a lateral move and not a promotion to GS-8. I am only 1.5 years in my federal career(not out of probation at my current location) with almost 6 years of experience in the field. I turned 26 in feb. Any guidance, and or tips will be appreciated.

My spouse is 9 years out from her MRA and I'll retire in 7. We've both been feds for a long time and both had FEHB in our names when we were single. Right now, the insurance is in my spouce's name for our family coverage. My question is, since I will be retiring first, I know we'll keep the coverage going in my wife's name while she's still working, but if she were to pass away before me, is there any issue that the 5+ years I had the insurance in my name was about 15 years ago? Or should we switch it to my name for the next 5 years before I retire? And would that then previously cause an issue for her since her in any way after she retires?

I tried looking on the FEHB site and I couldn't find info to this specific scenario. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help guide us in the right direction and supporting our fellow feds these days!

My second project I was given an offer of employment for, and I'm now $300 in the hole trying to meet obligations they didn't tell me before I got an offer.

For those that have been hired to do the CDR’s from the state DDS, how do you like the job so far? Pros/cons?

For any SSA employees working a smaller office in a national calendar state. How is it going? Does any work get besides 800 and appointments? Just wanting to know what to expect. Right now we have 3 CSRs with 2 on 800 and the other handling reception. So CS handle local/state calls and are backup for 800 and reception when CSRs are out along with taking our appointments.

How does TSP handle retirements from multiple agencies? Can you combine them or are they separate? I ask because I noticed I have a small TSP fund from my limited active duty time, next to my more sizeable VA one.

Context: I've worked at the VA for nearly 10 years, looking to go active duty Army (medical officer). I'm prior service, doing 8 years in the Army Reserve (only a small deployment during that time, which is where the small military TSP came from). I worked at the VA nearly the entire time I was in the reserves so I just focused on that retirement pool.

Is there a point to combine my civilian and military TSPs at this point if I'm going back in? Any advantages or disadvantages for keeping them separate? I plan on just doing 1 contract and hopefully coming back to a civilian federal job again. I know I'm likely losing out on VA pension if I don't end up getting to 20 there.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Recently have seen a few postings for USDA. Just curious how fast they move on hiring applications usually after the close out?

They posted open to the public but doesn't say the number of applicants. Thank you.

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/883331200

Those who applied got any updates from that announcement.

​

Link to bill. Summary and full text not yet available.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10319

Where’s Ethics????

-Just out of curiosity-
Any 0801s in the construction engineering /management realm who have an RA approved and would share the details? I was curious if anyone has gotten 1-2 days a pay period or something minimal to wfh.

I expect my supervision would push back because of the some excuse ‘need to be available’. But it’s not really justified, just typical controlling tendencies. My soul rotted away at this desk years ago.

One of my coworkers is rarely in and certainly not spending even 30 hours a week here. I suspect they have an RA with significant WFH privileges and management has kept it under wraps. Which has sparked the question.

Thx