The FED Weekly

In this episode of The FED Weekly, we cover key developments affecting federal employees and retirees for the week of April 5–11, 2026. Major news includes an OPM proposal requiring insurers to submit personally identifiable health data, sparking privacy and legal concerns about HIPAA compliance and fears of data misuse. For retirees, missed deadlines for Medicare General Enrollment and Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) dominated the conversation, with guidance provided on penalties and waivers. Progress updates on the Social Security Fairness Act highlight ongoing adjustments after the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. For current employees, a new TIGTA report exposes flaws in telework compliance following return-to-office mandates, leading to stricter attendance tracking. Additionally, OPM is considering limiting the number of employees who can receive top performance ratings, provoking union resistance. Discussion also touches on pay concerns, with 2026’s 1.0% general increase failing to close the locality pay gap in high-cost cities. The episode underscores the importance of staying informed on these evolving issues.