The FED Weekly

This week on The FED Weekly (7-13 Sep 2025), we cover major updates affecting federal employees and retirees. Congress introduced the Claiming Age Clarity Act to simplify Social Security claiming age terms, aiming to help retirees make more intelligent decisions about when to start benefits. Another bill, the Keep Billionaires out of Social Security Act, aims to prevent Social Security office closures and boost funding for better service, reflecting pushback against digital-only approaches. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported weak job growth, primarily tied to federal layoffs and canceled contracts, raising concerns about the risk of a government shutdown. For current federal workers, the Office of Personnel Management is overhauling hiring with a new “rule of many” and streamlined two-page resumes. Pay raises are in contention: President Trump proposes a 1% raise (with exceptions for law enforcement), while unions call for 4.3%. There’s also a major standoff over labor rights and collective bargaining. Additionally, new military leave and pay provisions are clarified for 2025 and 2026. The episode stresses the importance of staying informed as policies rapidly evolve.