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The FED Weekly

Dave Faulk

Welcome to The FED Weekly, the go-to podcast for current and retired U.S. federal employees who need to stay informed on the issues that matter most. In a rapidly changing political landscape, we deliver concise, weekly updates on the legislative, executive, and agency-level actions that have a direct impact on your professional life and financial future.

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  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 19 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • #47
    April 26 · 14 min

    The FED Weekly 19-25 Apr 2026 (Episode 47)

    This week’s episode of The FED Weekly covers the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, now the longest in history at 68 days, triggered by Congressional disputes over immigration agency reforms. Severe operational impacts include staff shortages and a lack of basic supplies. A Senate budget resolution may end the shutdown by mid-May. The Postal Service’s suspension of retirement fund contributions raises concerns about pension solvency. The Office of Personnel Management faces pushback over its proposal to collect extensive health benefits data, prompting calls for stricter privacy protections. Tax changes from the “One Big Beautiful Bill” offer notable new deductions and credits. The Equal COLA Act aims to equalize cost-of-living adjustments for FERS and CSRS retirees. Severe retirement processing backlogs persist, with retirees waiting months for full benefits. Critical deadlines for required minimum distributions and Medicare enrollment have just passed. Positive news includes ongoing Social Security Fairness Act payments. Policy changes for current workers include the implementation of Schedule PC positions, agency relocations outside D.C., the consolidation of occupational series, and major disputes over union rights. OPM also moves toward skills-based hiring in technology fields. (00:00) - Welcome and Overview (00:44) -  Issues That Affect Current and Retired Federal Workers (00:48) - DHS Shutdown Fallout (02:37) - FERS Funding Alarm (03:39) - FEHB Data Privacy (04:33) - New Tax Rules 2026 (05:47) - Equal COLA Push (06:24) -  Issues That Affect Retired Federal Workers (06:28) - Retirement Backlog Crisis (07:54) - RMD and Medicare Deadlines (08:37) - Social Security Fairness (09:27) -  Issues That Affect Current Federal Workers (09:30) - Schedule P C Rollout (10:28) - USDA Relocation Plans (11:32) - Job Series Consolidation (12:23) - Union Rights Showdown (13:32) - Skills Based Hiring Shift

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  • #46
    April 19 · 24 min

    The FED Weekly 12-18 Apr 2026 (Episode 46)

    In this episode of The FED Weekly, we cover major developments affecting federal employees and retirees for the week of April 12–18, 2026. Key highlights include the impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which permanently extends tax cuts, increases standard deductions, raises the SALT cap, and introduces new tax benefits and savings accounts for federal families. The episode details rising concerns about the costs and unintended consequences of workforce reforms, including disengagement and downsizing, with specific fallout in agencies such as the GSA, CDC, and IRS. There’s growing opposition to an OPM proposal to expand access to medical records. Updates on retirement and health benefits focus on changes to Medicaid, Medicare, retirement processing backlogs, and COLAs. For current workers, the episode discusses the looming reclassification of 50,000 positions under the new Schedule PC, major staffing cuts, increased reliance on AI and technology, and legislative moves to boost federal pay and guarantee shutdown pay. OPM initiatives to support foster and adoptive families, recruit cybersecurity talent, and expand contract opportunities without requiring a degree are also highlighted. Speaker A emphasizes the need to stay informed amid ongoing policy changes. (00:00) - Weekly Briefing Intro (00:44) -  Issues That Affect Current and Retired Federal Workers (00:48) - Tax Law Changes (04:07) - Workforce Reform Costs (05:19) - Health Data Privacy Fight (06:35) - Modernization And Cuts (08:42) - Family Support Update (09:16) -  Issues That Affect Retired Federal Workers (09:19) - Retirement Backlog Scrutiny (11:18) - Medicaid Medicare Shakeup (12:55) - Social Security Tax Planning (14:05) - Deadlines And COLA Updates (16:32) -  Issues That Affect Current Federal Workers (16:35) - Schedule PC Reclassification (18:15) - Deferred Resignation Fallout (19:51) - IRS Staffing Crunch (20:44) - AI Expansion Risks (21:35) - Pay And Shutdown Bills (22:40) - Safety And Hiring Moves (23:56) - Wrap Up And Subscribe

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