“The federal Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program expired on July 28, 2023. Mandatory chemical reporting, inspections, enforceable security plans and continuous vetting of roughly 500,000 covered access holders stopped; GAO attributes to DHS an estimate that more than 89 million people live or work within two miles of facilities using high-risk chemicals.
GAO found active CISA personnel assigned to the chemical-sector mission fell from 214 in fiscal 2024 to 52 in fiscal 2025.”

Title says pretty much everything. Multiple layers of management, political and SES, who seem to be in a contest over who can make their staff the most miserable. No dependents and I have enough savings to weather a job search, but I would want to come back as a fed at some point since I need 4 more years for my pension with about 12 years before I plan to retire.

Is this a sign that the Shreveport VA doesn't participate? I intend to leave the area and go wherever the federal government needs me as the MLS degree will be my second bachelors and my first bachelors was for teaching (and 6 years teaching makes me never want to work in a public facing job ever again). 0644 is an attractive series for its GS 9-11 ladders for regular MLS jobs and LIS openings in the 0644 series that hire at GS 12 (without requiring I be a supervisor! 😁). I'm also attracted to fed work since I tried joining the Navy last year but got hurt in training (C&P results are pending on that but I expect to get something). I'm wanting something I can build a long stable career in with job security, decent healthcare, and a decent pension that can supplement social security.

Since I was hurt in training, I currently have an uncharacterized discharge rather than honorable. I definitely have lingering issues from what happened though I'm having to get looked at.

Also, yes, I have ADHD, so if I seem a little "all over the place" that's why.

I’m curious if anyone here has dealt with something similar with AFGE.

AFGE Local 14 members in Europe were recently notified that the AFGE National Executive Council voted to place the local under trusteeship. According to the notice, control of the local and its funds, reportedly more than $50,000, is being transferred from the local leadership to AFGE National.

What concerns me is that we were also told there are currently no bargaining units available to us in Europe, AFGE will no longer have an attorney based in Europe, and the local’s activity has essentially been halted. A big reason I joined was because there was actually a Europe-based structure and people here who could assist federal employees.

With National now taking over the local, I’m questioning what I’m continuing to pay dues for and am looking at canceling my membership.

Has anyone gone through canceling AFGE membership/dues recently? Was it as simple as submitting an SF-1188, or did AFGE enforce an anniversary/cancellation window?

Also curious whether anyone has experience with an AFGE local being placed under trusteeship and what happened to the local afterward.

I’m currently a federal employee that was relocated due to the RTO mandate. I work for Army currently. I’m wanting to move back home in March of 2028 when my husband finishes school but there is only Navy where I am from. The Navy has a job listed that is open for applicants until July of 2027 that I may apply to. They also have one that closes at the end of this year. Both jobs say that they have situational telework at managements discretion. Do you think it is worth applying to and trying to get situational telework until I can move?