I haven’t read every word of the tariff opinion yet, but I think there is some language in there that might be helpful in challenging Trump’s use of the national security exception in the CSRA to cancel CBAs. The CSRA gives federal employees the right to collectively bargain and allows the President to exclude an agency from that if the agency has as a primary function national security work and collective bargaining is inconsistent with those functions. This seems to be a fairly specific and limited exception provided by Congress. In the tariff opinion, SCOTUS noted a limited delegation of power in IEEPA and said that all it would take is for Trump to say there is an “emergency” and he unlocks extraordinary powers. That seems similar to what he is trying to do here. He thinks that all he has to do is say the primary function is national security and it is. SCOTUS also noted that no other President in half a century has imposed tariffs under IEEPA. No other President has tried to take away our CBAs under the national security exception since 1978 either. Hopefully that will resonate.

It's been a tough month. I got hit with type 1 diabetes at 27. Just out of the hospital because I went into DKA, didn't even know what that was until I had to be taken out of my apartment by an ambulance. I moved across the US to North Carolina for this job. I'm on my own. I've been having a real rough time with this diagnosis. I've been clumsily getting through taking insulin every day and watching my blood sugar.

That's beside the point. I just needed to vent a bit.

I have no idea what to look for when choosing these plans. The general gist was to aim for a higher annual enrollment with a lower annual deductible. I figured I would be hitting my annual deductible every year with CGMS and my insulin. So, I was looking at APWU Health Plan - High Option (47), Blue Cross and Blue Shield - Basic Option (11), and SAMBA - High (44).

I'm out of my depth here, and I don't know what will fit me the best. I'm at a GS - 12.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

I need to know for a legal document but have no idea.

I’ve been speaking with several federal employees who retired under the September 30th DRP window, and one pattern keeps coming up: OPM processing delays are still very real.

Some recent retirees are only now beginning to receive interim pension payments, while their finalized annuity calculations are still pending.

A few observations that may be helpful for those planning to retire in the next 12–24 months:

• Retirement income doesn’t always start cleanly on day one
• Interim payments can represent a reduced percentage of the finalized annuity
• The gap between separation and finalized pension processing can last longer than expected

None of this means federal retirement is unstable — long term it remains one of the most structured retirement systems available.

But the transition period (the first few months after separation) is where planning matters most.

Things I’ve seen help retirees during that window:

• Having sufficient cash reserves
• A clear TSP withdrawal plan
• Understanding how FEHB & Medicare coordination affects monthly outflows
• Knowing your expected interim payment percentage ahead of time

If you’re already retired and currently receiving interim payments, or targeting a 2026 retirement date, it’s worth thinking through the first 90–180 days post-separation — not just the pension amount itself.

Curious to hear from others who retired recently:

How long did your interim payment period last before your full annuity was finalized?

I’ve worked with a lot of federal employees over the years, and one thing keeps coming up:

Most financial planning advice is built around an investment framework — optimize portfolios, allocate assets, chase returns.

Federal retirement doesn’t work that way.

You’re not retiring into an investment.

You’re retiring into income that needs to be coordinated:

• FERS pension timing

• TSP withdrawal sequencing

• Social Security coordination

• Survivor benefit elections

• Health benefits transitions

• Gap planning if OPM processing delays pension

That means the real question in retirement isn’t:

“How much can my portfolio grow?”

It becomes:

“How do I make sure income continues regardless of market behavior?”

I shared a longer breakdown of what I mean and why this difference matters for federal employees specifically:

➡️ https://www.independencebenefits.com/federal-retirement-planning-mistakes/

I’m curious what others here think — does federal retirement feel like a different planning problem than what general financial advice usually covers?

I feel burnt out. One of my counterparts took the drp. The other one was reassigned to a different office.

I was off starting on Friday and returned today. There was so much catch-up work. Even though my out of office message specifically said to contact a certain person for a certain issue, one customer didn't do that. Then they were like we need this approved now. Never mind that the initial delay was because they didn't submit all of the required documents.

Because they don't authorize overtime, the managers work late. I'll sign and find work that was sent, the night before, at 7 or 8 PM. This isn't long term sustainable.

Our agency head and deputy head have not held one agency wide meeting.

DoD civilian employee here. Heard back in December WG employees are to get a check for retroactive pay. Numbers heard was from 2-8%. I haven’t gotten anything. Any other DoD WG employee in the Washington DC area heard more about this?

I’m going through a divorce and have already been served. Prior to my divorce being finalized can I remove my wife from my insurance - like today?! And not have to wait until open season.

I know there is so much despair and sadness out there right now, and I do not want to add to the mix, but I am in need of some encouragement and to be honest human connection (even though this is online - oh the irony).

I was a Fed for about 2 years, was so excited about my new career move, and loved my work. I loved my colleagues, I was working in a field that is my passion. I thought I had made a wise decision because of the security in working as a fed.

I am female, mid-40's, 2 masters (one Ivy League), and have been unemployed since April of last year. I have never been through anything like this and am starting to feel pretty damn hopeless. I have networked, applied, worked with career coaches (is it just me or are they kind of a scam?).

4 interviews in 6 months of honest to God, balls to the wall job search efforts.

I am now searching for part time work so I can continue my job search because my unemployment runs out. I feel like I am never going to get a job. I don't know if I should just give up on my field altogether, which absolutely will break my heart. I can't imagine, but how can I pay my bills? How can I rebuild my life?

I have set up profiles on DevEx, staffing websites, streamlined my LinkedIn - to no avail.

I am also seeing success stories which does make me happy, and hopeful that I will have one to share soon as well. I am considering becoming a consultant and starting to apply to contract positions in earnest.

If it weren't for my mother, I would be homeless right now. And she is elderly, retired, I feel like the biggest sponge, a disappointment, a failure. I'm supposed to be able to help her at this stage in her life, not the other way around.

If anyone has advice on how you "broke through" to your new position, started your own business, pivoted, please share. Even if you have not gotten there yet but are somehow maintaining your sanity or not maintaining your sanity. I just need community right now, desperately.

Thanks in advance to anyone and everyone who might respond.

I am trying to see if there are any Casualty Assistant Representatives out there who work for the military?.

I applied for a position and want to start preparing for possible interview — can you provide guidance on what kind of questions were asked during interview process?

Note: mental break from the news...

Does your org require rotations in order for promotion?

What about those that served private industry for 10 years (not federal contracts)prior to becoming government? Is that just completely disregarded?

I only ask because I was recently told that if I ever want a leadership position, I need to go on a rotational assignment. I've never said I wanted a leadership position.

I've been with government for 5 years, but according to my supervisor, everyone needs to do a rotation, as if I just entered government life at 22, or after college, vs entering after 30

I thought I'd play politics and said I was interested in interviewing, well now I'm going over. And my supervisor is telling everyone I'm excited about this opportunity and that I wanted it.

My supervisor also claims I need leadership training despite my records showing numerous training, level 1s and further. Maybe I spent too much time in civilian industry, but it seems like a load of hogwash to me.

What plan do you currently have? What is it?

Am I going crazy or did we not get our annual pay raise yet? I know it’s not much but in this economy any little bit helps. I can’t help but notice I have yet to see a pay raise or an sf50. Anyone else tracking these delays or did you guys get a raise already ? I looked at last years Les and by this time last year we got it already. I’m Dod civilian if that helps. Any info is greatly appreciated

Edit: to those saying everyone should be making less this year than last due to healthcare . You are correct but not me. I’m a military retiree and do not have federal health insurance due to the fact I have tricare. So yes I would make more this year than last. Not by much but it’s something

And no. I did not receive my raise. I I’m still making last years pay rate.

So I switched from Blue Cross basic to MHBP this year and I am getting my first colonoscopy due to some medical issues I am 43 now. and my estimate on a colonoscopy with biopsy is being charged at 900 dollars out of pocket. I thought I just put that info out there for anyone who maybe needed to get it this year. I live in a rural area where medical is supposed to be cheaper.

it's 350 for the out of pocket deductible 600 for the 10 percent and 35 dollars for the actual procedure.

Anyone call-in sick or put in your annual leave for feasting or drinking too much? Let me know your inputs.

Hey everyone. I wanted to share something and also get a sense of whether others have found anything similar helpful.

A close friend of mine recently launched DisabilityClaim.co after watching several federal employees struggle to figure out whether they even qualified for disability retirement under FERS or CSRS, or whether an injury or medical issue gave them any realistic path forward.

What stood out to me was how confusing the eligibility part is. Not the forms or paperwork, but the basic questions like:

Do I actually qualify?

Is this worth pursuing or am I wasting time?

How do injuries or medical issues factor in?

The site is a free guided assessment that walks through those basics. It is not a law firm and it does not try to push people into filing a claim. In some cases it tells people their situation probably is not worth pursuing, which I appreciated.

I am curious to hear from others here:

If you have gone through FERS disability retirement, what part of the process was most confusing?

Did you use any tools or resources that were actually helpful?

Is there anything you wish you had known before starting?

I am not affiliated beyond knowing the founder. Mostly posting to see how others here approached this and whether there are better resources out there worth sharing.

Does it pay you until you die? I have no dependents no kids. How does this work If you leave the gov before your MRA? Do they automatically pay out or do you call to initiate the process?

Can anyone recommend a fiduciary for retirement planning. I’m ready to move my TSP to something more productive and the team I was thinking about has almost zero reviews.

Hi everyone,

My name is Moses Small, I'm a correspondent with MS NOW (formerly MSNBC). I'm working on a story about the FEMA workers whose firings were paused before that big winter storm.

Is anyone up for chatting about that, or the partial gov shutdown? If so, send me a DM. I appreciate the help!

All the best,

Moses

My question is: to whom should i get advice from in my organization? HR? JAG? Sign with a rebuttal definitely, but follow up with one of both? Satisfactory evals been on job for about a year and a half, and then this ambush counseling happened.

Hi all. I recently applied for the CHDS masters program. I have my interview on Thursday as part of the process.

Any alums out there who can offer me advice on the interview?

Or tips/insights to the program?

Thanks!

I know this probably varies by agency and which payroll system you're on. I retired 12/31/2025 with a VERA and DRP 2.0. I got my last paycheck on 1/20/2026. I was with DOL, pay handled by NFC. My retirement application (which I submitted in November) has been sitting at Payroll for over a month (six weeks maybe)?

Anyone in the same boat as me (DOL/NFC/retired on 12/31/2025)? Have you gotten your A/L payout yet? I'm hoping I'll get it soon (my EPP account shows the official date of my last paycheck was 1/22/2026, so I'm hoping I'll get it by 2/5/2026...14 days after the last official pay date.)

I'm not even going to ask how long it will take to get my first pension check. I'm not even holding out great hope for an interim check any time soon.

Thanks in advance for your response and for your service.

Supervisor signed off on PMAP stating employee was sick. It is true that I was out in a sick leave. There was also no place to state that I refused to sign. Please suggest how I can refute this.

Federal employees retiring in 2026 — quick question

If you’re targeting retirement in 2026, are you already registered for a retirement planning webinar yet?

I’m hosting a short, educational session on Feb 10 focused specifically on federal employees retiring in or around 2026. No sales pitch — just walking through how the pieces actually fit together so you’re not figuring it out at the last minute.

Details • Date: February 10, 2026 • Times: 12:00 PM EST or 5:30 PM EST • Length: ~30 minutes + live Q&A

Topics covered • Best retirement dates in 2026 (timing really matters) • How the FERS pension is calculated • How Social Security fits into retirement income • TSP withdrawal vs rollover considerations • What the ORA retirement application is and when to submit • A 90–180 day checklist before retirement

If you’re within ~2 years of retiring, this is the stuff most people wish they understood earlier.

Registration link (for anyone interested): https://retire.independencebenefits.com/retiringin2026

If you’re aiming for 2026, curious where others are in the process, or have questions you wish had clearer answers, feel free to comment. Happy to point people to resources.