The FED Weekly

The conversation focused on key federal workforce developments for the week of September 6–12, 2026. A key theme that emerged was the Office of Personnel Management’s shift toward long-term structural changes, including a new performance management system, decentralized employee surveys, centralized recruiting, and efforts to modernize federal HR technology. The discussion explored the impact of August inflation data, which points to an estimated 3.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027 federal retirees, pending September's final figures.

Several points were raised, including significant court rulings: one blocking the administration from requiring civil service applicants to answer politically focused essay questions, and another finding the Department of Homeland Security’s workforce cuts at FEMA unlawful. A new lawsuit challenges the Department of Agriculture’s planned employee relocations. The episode also covered updated reduction-in-force (RIF) rules, now tying employee retention points primarily to performance ratings rather than tenure, with major implications for job security. The conversation highlighted the ongoing transformation of federal workforce policy and emphasized the importance of staying informed amid rapid change.