Everything Old is New Again

The Office of Personnel Management just announced a new non-disclosure agreement for federal employees — but is it actually new? Federal workers are already bound by a web of laws and regulations prohibiting the disclosure of non-public, government information. So, what is OPM really after? The answer may lie in the fine print, and it has serious implications for whistleblowers, free speech, and the future of federal employment protections. Here's what you need to know.

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The Calm Before the Storm

The clock is ticking for tens of thousands of federal employees. Schedule Policy/Career — the rebranded successor to the controversial Schedule F — is no longer a distant threat. With OPM's final rule now in effect and HHS already identifying hundreds of positions for reclassification, implementation appears imminent. Here's what you need to know about how this started, how we got where we are today, and what it means for your job.

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Discipline & the MSPB, New Developments Emily Kathryn Tyler Discipline & the MSPB, New Developments Emily Kathryn Tyler

All Bets are Off

Federal employees who use nonpublic government information to trade on prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket risk serious consequences — including removal from federal service, criminal charges, and loss of security clearance.  Learn what the existing ethics regulations say, how the 2026 indictment of a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier changed the conversation, and what proposed legislation could mean for government employees.

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EEO Matters, New Developments Emily Kathryn Tyler EEO Matters, New Developments Emily Kathryn Tyler

Two Standards, One Workplace

Federal agencies are receiving mixed signals from OPM on workplace accommodations. Telework is described as a "low-cost solution" when requested for religious reasons, but "high-impact" and available only in "very limited situations" for employees with disabilities. Here's what federal employees need to know about their rights under the return-to-office directive.

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Four Myths about Human Resources

All government employees have a love/hate relationship with human resources – from the paperwork and 45-step processes to the dreaded “well, it depends” answer to anything you ask.  This post will correct four myths about federal human resources, including misconceptions about the role of human resources staff.

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