The FED Weekly

The conversation focused on the latest legislative updates affecting federal employees and retirees for the week of August 9-15, 2026. Key topics included proposed lifetime identity theft protection for victims of the 2015 OPM data breach, with pending legislation aiming to extend coverage and insurance beyond the current September 2026 expiration. The discussion covered the release of July’s inflation data, the first data point in calculating the 2027 federal retiree COLA, with September and October readings determining the final adjustment. Several points were raised, including major workforce proposals like expanding paid family and medical leave, broadening access to workers’ compensation providers, and limiting mandatory educational requirements for contractor personnel. A summary also covered bills addressing federal facility air quality assessments and punitive measures for federal employees found noncompliant or dishonest in congressional investigations. A key theme that emerged was the importance of staying informed, as these changes remain legislative proposals and have not yet taken effect.