Federal workforce updates
Federal Layoffs & RIFs News and Resources
Follow new FedUp.work coverage, understand reduction-in-force rights and benefits, and find the next action to take if your federal job is affected.
Final rule update · Verified August 24, 2026
The issue date on a RIF notice now determines which rules apply
OPM's amended retention and appeal rules are scheduled to take effect September 2. A specific notice issued before that date stays under the prior framework; one issued on or after that date uses the new performance-credit order and OPM appeal process.
Read the 2026 federal RIF rule guideChoose by urgency
Match the resource to what happened
A rumor, formal notice, furlough, and completed separation call for different first steps. Use the path that matches your current status, then verify personal deadlines with your notice, agency, and current official guidance.
- 01I need a plan before access or pay changesProtect records, identify deadlines, and route benefits and support questions through a situation-specific checklist.Build an action plan
- 02I received a formal RIF noticeUnderstand retention standing, notice requirements, transition priority, and the appeal questions that may need prompt attention.Review RIF next steps
- 03I need to estimate separation cash flowUse OPM-based inputs to estimate statutory federal severance, while treating the agency determination as controlling.Estimate federal severance
- 04I am preparing for a private-sector moveCompare paths by agency and specialty, then translate the work behind your federal title into employer language.Explore career transitions
Reviewed guidance
Selected layoff and RIF resources
6 published resources
- 01Federal Reduction in Force: 2026 Rules, Rights & Next StepsSee which September 2026 RIF rules apply to your notice, how performance affects retention, where to appeal, and the next steps to protect your rights.Updated Aug 24, 2026
- 02What to Do After a Federal Layoff: First StepsA first-30-days plan after a federal layoff: preserve records, track deadlines, file UCFE, confirm transition priority, and start a private-sector search.Updated Aug 24, 2026
- 03Federal Furlough Job Search: Rules, Benefits, First StepsFurloughed and pay paused? Learn when non-excepted employees may qualify for state unemployment, what ethics rules allow, and how to start a job search.Updated Jul 31, 2026
- 04Federal Career Transition Services: CTAP, ICTAP & RPLSee how CTAP, ICTAP, and the Reemployment Priority List help surplus or separated federal employees get hiring priority—and what to do if you're leaving.Updated Jul 17, 2026
- 05UCFE Unemployment for Federal Employees: Who QualifiesLost federal pay after a RIF, furlough, shutdown, or deferred resignation? Learn UCFE eligibility, required records, filing steps, and repayment risks.Updated Jul 15, 2026
- 06Federal Annual Leave Payout: Calculation, Taxes & TimingLeaving federal service? See how unused annual leave is paid out: which separations qualify, how the lump sum is calculated and taxed, and when to expect it.Updated Aug 17, 2026
High-impact decisions
Plan retirement, benefits, savings, and the next role
Use the resource that matches the decision in front of you. These pages answer distinct questions, so one calculation does not get mistaken for a complete exit plan.
- Compare federal retirement datesTest candidate dates against age, service, leave, and annuity-start considerations before accepting a separation date.Open resource
- Decide whether to keep or roll over your TSPCompare leaving money in the TSP with a direct rollover, including fees, tax handling, and access tradeoffs.Open resource
- Translate a 2210 role for private employersMap IT specialty, scope, and leadership responsibility to realistic private-sector titles without inflating seniority.Open resource
- Check benefits after a voluntary resignationUse the correct FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, leave, and deferred-pension clocks when resignation—not a RIF or retirement—is the actual path.Open resource
Free tools
Estimate what a RIF or buyout pays
Severance and VSIP both follow fixed formulas in law. Enter your pay, service, and age to see your estimated payout, computed with OPM's official rules.
Primary sources
Official federal updates
Rules and program details can change. Confirm deadlines and eligibility with the agencies that administer them.