Narfe256

08/31/2026

It may be wise to mail in your ballot at least 10 business days before they are due or drop it into an official ballot box in your area. Check with your county elections website to see if they have a program you can sign up for that will notify you that your ballot has been received, and again when your votes have been counted.

Postmaster General David Steiner says USPS “is not a political organization,” as it carefully navigates its way through yet another round of election mail lawsuits and urges Congress for help to avoid running out of cash.

08/31/2026

Congress can override the President but neither House or Senate is indicating doing so at this point.

In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, the president claimed that denying the federal workforce a pay raise will not hurt agency recruitment and retention efforts.

08/14/2026

Guidance Issued on New OPM Appeals Programs: Suitability, RIFs, and Probationary Period

Following is new guidance from OPM on transitioning appeals jurisdiction from the MSPB to OPM – covering suitability, RIF and probationary/trial period personnel actions – covered in final rules issued in the Aug 3 Federal Register. The new rules take effect September 2. Appeals existing prior to that date are not affected.

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The Three Programs at a Glance

Suitability

Adjudicating OPM Office:
Suitability Executive Agent (SuitEA)

Covered Actions:
Suitability actions taken under 5 CFR part 731

Covered Cases:
Appeals filed with MSPB before the rule’s effective date are not subject to the new rule. Appeals filed on or after the rule’s effective date must be filed with OPM.

RIF

Adjudicating OPM Office:
Merit System Accountability and Compliance (MSAC)

Covered Actions:
Furloughs over 30 days, separations, and demotions by RIF

Covered Cases:
RIF actions for which the specific RIF notice (5 CFR 351.802) is issued on or after the effective date.

Probationary period

Adjudicating OPM Office:
Merit System Accountability and Compliance (MSAC)

Covered Actions:
Terminations, noncertifications, and failures to certify or finalize initial probationary period actions (and trial period actions for employees covered by 5 CFR part 307); supervisory/managerial probationary actions. Appeals limited to actions based on partisan political reasons/marital status or conditions arising before appointment.

Covered Cases:
Actions effected on or after the rule’s effective date.

08/14/2026

Regardless if Congress voted on the merger of USFS fire with the US Wildland Fire Service, if it’s done without a proper transition in time and personnel, lives and property will be placed in harms way. There are over 10,000 non-fire FS employees who are red carded who will not be available to respond to wildland fires if the merger takes place. It would take years for the USWFS to build a workforce with the knowledge, experience, and skills that already exists.

Union officials say the agency now is likely to lose additional workers due to the reorganization including those qualified to respond as wildland firefighters.

08/11/2026

OPM has announced a new online portal for eligible former federal employees to obtain the electronic personnel records by email. Users complete a one-time

08/11/2026

Scientists found the brain's immune cells start switching to inflammatory ones at 50; a possible trigger for dementia.

07/26/2026

To NARFE256 followers, posts will be sparse over the next few months. As a PIO on a wildland fire Complex Incident Management Team, I fear most of my time will be spent on wildland fires. The statistics from the National Interagency Fire Center's post show how widespread wildfires are occurring across the U.S. and it doesn't look like things will slow down anytime soon. Keep all firefighters in your thoughts and prayers for their safety and well being.

06/27/2026

U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan said the administration violated the law when it created a centralized database of Americans' personal records.

06/26/2026

If your child is eligible for a Trump Account, would it be worth pursuing? If you're in the low income bracket or your employer not able to contribute, this would likely be a bust.

Trump Accounts were passed into law in 2025 are individual retirement investment-style accounts established for children under the age of 18 (and include one-time $1,000 federal government contribution to their account for those eligible). They are due to launch on July 4, 2026, however many are wai...