Resources for civil servants

September 3, 2025
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Navigating attacks on the federal workforce

Safeguarding a nonpartisan civil service Safeguarding a nonpartisan civil service

Initial steps: protect yourself

Things are changing quickly for the federal workforce. If you are still employed as a federal civil servant, there are some initial steps you can take to make things slightly simpler if you are separated from employment.

Download your personnel and benefits documents. (These documents can be much harder to access after your leave. Some employees are getting locked out of their phones and computers as soon as they are given notice of a personnel action):

Your entire eOPF file, including performance reviews
A copy of your position description (ask your immediate supervisor or HR for a copy, if you don’t have one)
Your 2025 Active Plan from USA Performance
Benefits documents under the personal info tab of your EPP file

Ensure you are able to log into benefits programs such as TSP, FSA Feds, Long Term Care Insurance Program, and BENEFEDS from your personal device and that authentication methods don’t require you to use your work email or device. Download all important documents and handbooks that detail your coverage (e.g. the FEGLI handbook).

Understand your status. Many employee rights differ based on your role and employment status.

Review the website Reading your SF-50 to determine your service and appointment type to better understand your role.
You can also understand your employment status (for example, whether or not you are a probationary employee) by reviewing documents in your eOPF or asking HR professionals to confirm your status.

To learn more about what you can do to protect yourself, including strengthening your privacy and security, read our first Dear Civil Servant letter.

Explainers: legal protections for federal workers

Resign or Be Fired?, Protect Democracy Resign or Be Fired?,

The Mass Removal of Probationary Federal Employees Is an Unlawful Reduction in Force, Protect Democracy The Mass Removal of Probationary Federal Employees Is an Unlawful Reduction in Force,

Understanding the Termination of Federal Probationary Employees and Their Rights, Protect Democracy Understanding the Termination of Federal Probationary Employees and Their Rights,

Know Your Rights webinar series, Partnership for Public Service Know Your Rights webinar series,

What probationary employees need to know, Just Security What probationary employees need to know,

Guides on truth-telling for federal employees, public interest organizations, and journalists; Government Accountability Project Guides on truth-telling for federal employees, public interest organizations, and journalists;

Employees’ rights and duties to refuse to obey illegal orders, Government Accountability Project Employees’ rights and duties to refuse to obey illegal orders,

Caught Between Conscience and Career: A Guide for Federal Government Whistleblowers, Project on Government Oversight Caught Between Conscience and Career: A Guide for Federal Government Whistleblowers,

Guide to Federal Employee Speech and The First Amendment, ACLU Guide to Federal Employee Speech and The First Amendment,

Pro-Bono Resources, Rise Up Federal Workers Legal Defense Network Pro-Bono Resources,