The FED Weekly

The conversation focused on the latest federal policy and legislative developments from August 2-8, 2026, impacting both active and retired federal employees. A key theme was the Senate’s advancement of a bipartisan stopgap spending measure to avert a government shutdown, with important provisions to prevent politicization of federal grants and maintain agency operations through December 11, 2026. The discussion explored advocacy campaigns for the Saving the Civil Service Act, aimed at protecting merit-based jobs and shielding workers from political interference. For retirees, several points were raised, including grassroots efforts backing the Equal COLA Act to ensure fair cost-of-living adjustments for FERS retirees, and updates on payment schedules. For current workers, analysis covered the potential 2027 pay freeze, regulatory changes limiting union arbitration, a court injunction upholding VA union contracts, new legislation on paid family leave, workplace safety, and improved workers’ compensation. Other updates included a lawsuit against the EEOC’s suspension of class discrimination claims and a new VA policy supporting broader competition in IT procurements.