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

About this episode

This episode covers major developments affecting federal employees and retirees, including tax law changes and workforce reforms.

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…

People in this episode

Host: Dave Faulk

Topics covered

• federal employees
• tax law changes
• workforce reforms
• health benefits
• retirement updates
• foster and adoptive families
• cybersecurity recruitment

Keywords

• federal employees
• tax cuts
• workforce reforms
• health benefits
• retirement processing
• AI technology
• foster families
• cybersecurity talent

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: GSA, CDC, IRS, OPM

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