How to manage the government, it's the national topic at the moment. Right now the government is managed by Elon Musk and Doge. Or by cabinet secretaries who seem hell-bent on cutting away at their departments. Or at least it looks that way. Should we have a Department of Management? My next guest thinks so. I spoke with an outspoken retired federal chief human capital officer, and former political appointee, Jeff Neal.Plus, the shock waves reverberate. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Junior wants to trim a third of the employees. For analysis of what this might mean for agency operations, we turn to a long-serving HHS executive now in private consulting, Jeff Grant.Also, we turn to the topic of far-away feds. Federal employees and service members across the board face tough times. Sailors and Marines sometimes face special challenges when they return home, or they're still away at sea. That's where the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society comes in. It's accepting applications for 2025-26 education grants. For details, I spoke with the society's chief operations officer, retired rear admiral Dawn Cutler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Your Federal Life -- Mar. 19, 2025
Some 40,000 federal employees did decide to resigned per the Trump administration's early fork-in-the-road offer. They've been promised full pay for the rest of the fiscal year. What about pension benefits? Or access to the Federal Employee Health Benefits plans? We get some answers from long-time federal employment attorney Alan Lescht.Plus, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is just one Congressional group considering ways to cut federal spending including employee benefits, and save tens of billions of dollars over the years. I spoke with certified financial planner Thiago Glieger for what he's concerned about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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21:52
Your Federal Life -- Mar. 12, 2025
Just what do you get if you're caught up in a reduction in force? Like those Education Department employees RIF'd just this week. And what about if you decide to retire early? Federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan has been getting lots of these questions lately. She joins me now with a few answers.Plus, is the goal of reducing the federal workforce by 10% wrong? Or just the way the Trump administration is going about it? And what about the persistent five-bullet email? Some perspective now from retired federal manager Abe Grungold of AG Financial Services. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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24:04
Your Federal Life -- Mar. 5, 2025
Federal employees worried about their jobs are also worried about their family finances and health care coverage. In fact, cash flow and health care *should* be at the top of your concerns now. More now from RMG Financial Advisors certified financial planner Thiago Glieger.Plus, whether the Trump administration will be great for the economy, as promised, is yet to be seen. Tariff-induced trade wars don't have a good record. But what about the new administration's effect on your Thrift Savings Plan account, the stock market? Here to take stock so far, Art Stein of Arthur Stein Financial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Your Federal Life -- Feb. 19, 2025
Events of the last few weeks have caused federal managers' heads to spin. The resignation offer, the closure of agencies, the new policy schedule. All these developments have sparked lawsuits. One of the litigants is the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. For some of the what's and wherefores, I spoke to NARFE staff vice president John Hatton.Plus, with a little planning followed by consistency, you can save a million dollars in your TSP. And what better time to revise your strategy than when the year is still young. Some ideas from wealth advisor Thiago Glieger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Each week, Tom Temin, Drew Friedman and contributors to Federal News Network’s workforce coverage provide listeners with actionable information on the management of their careers and financial lives. Your Federal Life covers topics ranging from federal pay and benefits to retirement and retirement planning, hiring, career planning, and federal personnel policy.
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