The Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation (SBS) is committed to making sure families and colleagues know that they are not alone in their grief as they navigate their loss with the knowledge that their officers mattered.

The Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation (SBS) is committed to making sure families and colleagues know that they are not alone in their grief as they navigate their loss with the knowledge that their officers mattered.

As Congress returns from August recess, it only has a few short weeks to focus on legislation impacting federal law enforcement, retirement benefits, and the federal workforce.

Despite our continuous pursuit to ensure equal opportunity at all levels, women still only represent 13% of Federal law enforcement officers and agents—12% within state and local ranks.

This week on FEDtalk, the Attorneys of Shaw Bransford & Roth, with a combined three decades of representing federal employees, discuss the significant cases impacting the federal workforce.

As Congress returns from August recess, it only has a few short weeks to focus on legislation impacting federal law enforcement, retirement benefits, and the federal workforce.

As Congress returns from August recess, it only has a few short weeks to focus on legislation impacting federal law enforcement, retirement benefits, and the federal workforce.

Government officials may be sued in their personal capacity for alleged violations of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA), the Supreme Court held in the case of Tanzin v. Tanvir, issued last week.

We want to be sure you know how to receive help and access resources through the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA), the only 501c3 charity by and for federal civilian employees. We encourage you to share this information with other federal employees and contact FEEA with any questions at emergency@feea.org.

Huey and I experienced a wide range of environments in North Carolina. During the few weeks we were in the state, we faced below-freezing temperatures and days with highs in the seventies. We drove through rural farmland surrounding the Uwharrie Forest, suburban sprawl surrounding Research Triangle Park, and urban streets in Wilmington. We (tried to) visit the most modern of research facilities and saw the remains of a colonial settlement from over 200 years ago. We followed the trail of federal government involvement through all of these environments. I continue to be amazed at the vast scope of federal influence, which oversees the history and the future innovations coming out of North Carolina.

Huey and I concluded our tour of New England in the state of Connecticut back in November.  Due to a series of circumstances, including a mechanical breakdown (the RV’s), a bout of poor health (mine), and being spoiled by his grandmother for the holidays (Huey), we took a short break from The Federal Fifty.  However, we are now on the road again visiting the Southeast and back to reporting on our adventures.

We are pleased to announce that, thanks to the generous support of the Bill Bransford Fund and the law firm Shaw Bransford & Roth, FEEA will begin awarding a new scholarship to first-generation college students who are the children of eligible federal employees or are federal employees themselves.

New data released last month from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that federal employee suicides have reached their highest level in at least 15 years. Law enforcement and national security agencies continue to lead with the largest percentage of suicides within the federal workforce.

Huey and Maya visit the Ocean State and find that Rhode Island has an unexpected density of federal sites. They learn about NOAA grants, wildlife refuges, and a historic Coast Guard lighthouse.

Huey and Maya head to Boston to visit their next big federal destination: the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum on Columbia Point.

Huey and Maya begin their journey in the state of Maine, visiting current and historical federal sites.

Catch up on last week’s FEDtalk and hear about the changing face of federal space exploration and research, including the increased reliance on public/private partnerships with academia and private organizations such as Boeing and SpaceX.