“I’m overwhelmed” has never been echoed by federal employees more than it is right now. And it’s not just CDC, FDA, and NIH employees. BOP, USDA, USPS, ICE, EPA and every other agency employee is calling FEDS Protection with questions regarding concern over decisions and actions/inactions in the performance of duties or managing work, programs, or employees.

While the world is facing an unprecedented crisis, finger-pointing and allegations of “mismanagement” may begin. We know this because we’ve defended federal employees in other unprecedented crises, just in the last few decades, such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Benghazi, Waco, Ruby Ridge, wildfire fatalities, etc.

There is no sugarcoating the fact that we need to redesign agencies to address modern problems and take advantage of modern tools. Any leader effectuating change in a federal agency needs to carefully consider how to meet the mission of the agency and manage the expectations of the public while working within federal regulations and budgetary restrictions. This is no different than any corporate leader, right?

Last week, the Office of Personnel Management proposed new regulations to implement portions of President Trump’s May 2018 Executive Order on federal employee firing and discipline.

As summer time-off requests come to an end, it’s time to start thinking about your religious observances and any time off you may need in the coming months.

Bad things happen to good, conscientious, hardworking federal managers.  This week, we highlight the specific exposures of IRS managers in the hope that you will be able to identify your own vulnerabilities.

As we quickly approach the one-year anniversary of the Executive Order Promoting Accountability & Streamlining Removal Procedures Consistent with Merit System Principles, we at FEDS Protection believe that while the Executive Order may not have had the impact on the overall federal workforce many anticipated, the spillover effects on the lives of federal managers has left them vulnerable to unprecedented rates of discrimination, retaliation, and whistleblower reprisal allegations.

Allegations can spring upon you at any point as a federal employee. If you were informed of an allegation being made against you tomorrow, would you be prepared?

Did you know that if you are directly accused of wrongdoing, particularly in an OIG or internal management investigation into allegations of wrongdoing, that you will not be assigned an agency attorney?

As the President of FEDS, I didn’t know whether to celebrate the agreement to fund agencies through mid­February or to commiserate over the uncertainty that lies ahead.

In the wake of the recent government shutdown and subsequent strains on the federal community, we have had many FEDS members contact us with concerns about how to handle current or upcoming furloughs.

If you have your liability insurance through FEDS Protection, you have automatically been entered into a raffle to win one of two 9.7 inch 128 GB Apple iPads.

We get several calls a week from federal agency managers who need legal advice or representation but don’t have FEDS Protection in place.