Federal News Network

10/09/2026

Most retirees want to use every dollar of income they receive. While that extra dollar in income will likely be taxable, an extra dollar of income can trigger thousands of dollars in surprise Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D monthly premium charges. Financial professionals have a name for this additional monthly premium charge: Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount or IRMAA.

Read more from Serving Those Who Serve:

Most retirees want to use every dollar of income they receive. While that extra dollar in income will likely be taxable, an extra dollar of income can trigger thousands of dollars in surprise Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D monthly premium charges. Financial professionals have a name for this ad...

10/08/2026

When a workplace issue escalates, most federal employees only see the tip of the iceberg. On this episode of Fed Thread, federal HR expert and Founder and CEO of HR Armor, Noël Tarquinii, joins Alex Witt to lay bare what’s really happening behind the scenes:

- how decisions get made,
- what changes when you’re suddenly under scrutiny,
- where failures can happen on both sides of the complaint, and
- the strategic moves you should make before you respond.

From communication breakdowns to PIPs, investigations, and the subtle signs your role is shifting, listen to the full episode for how to navigate major HR moments without making things worse.

Learn more now | https://federalnewsnetwork.com/fed-thread/2026/10/before-you-hit-send-what-to-do-when-workplace-issues-escalate/

Sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

10/07/2026

For federal employees covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), choosing a retirement date is more than an administrative decision. The date can affect:

- Whether you receive the final annual and sick leave accrual for a pay period
- How much unused annual leave is paid in a lump sum
- Whether excess “use-or-lose” leave is preserved or forfeited

Read more on the best strategic retirement dates for federal employees under FERS in 2027:

You're ready for retirement, but do you know the best day to retire?

10/06/2026

What would it take to end veteran su***de?

On this episode of Fed Thread, John Eaton, Complex Care Vice President at Wounded Warrior Project, explains what prevention looks like in practice, why connection can be so powerful, and why he believes ending veteran su***de is possible.

Prevention doesn't begin when someone reaches a crisis point, says Eaton, but should start much earlier by
- recognizing changes in behavior,
- listening without judgment,
- asking the difficult question about su***de directly, and
- making sure veterans and their families know where to turn.

If you're a veteran, a family member, a friend or colleague, or simply someone who wants to support the veteran community, listen to the full Fed Thread conversation for concrete ways to recognize when someone is struggling and move from awareness to action.

Learn more now | https://federalnewsnetwork.com/.../winning-the-fight.../

Sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

10/01/2026

The information you give away online may be doing more than generating spam calls. For some federal employees, it can help someone find where you live, identify your family, or turn a workplace grievance into a personal threat.

On this episode of Fed Thread, Ron Zayas, founder and CEO of Ironwall by Incogni, explains the growing intersection of federal work, personal data and physical safety.

The conversation covers:
- How much information is publicly available about private citizens
- Why you should protect your phone number like it’s your social security number
- How data brokers build profiles from seemingly unrelated pieces of information
- What can happen if you get “doxxed,” and
- How to recognize the difference between online anger and an escalating threat

You don't have to become impossible to find, says Zayas, but making yourself a harder, less attractive target is often enough to prevent a personal attack.

If you’ve ever wondered just how much of your private life is being sold online for cheap, don’t miss the full Fed Thread episode, and be sure to like and follow the show on YouTube.

Learn more now | https://federalnewsnetwork.com/fed-thread/2026/10/the-bullseye-on-your-back-what-happens-when-federal-work-makes-you-a-target/

Sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

09/29/2026

The cyber workforce challenge isn’t getting any smaller.
Federal agencies need the talent, skills and leadership required to secure increasingly complex missions.

A panel of experts discusses all things recruiting, developing and retaining the next generation of federal cybersecurity professionals.
You’ll hear from:
• Michael Harpin, CISA
• Brandon Dues, White House
• Christopher Bloor, SANS Institute
• Richard Forno, UMBC

Register now | https://event.on24.com/wcc/mr/6928917/C815A3A7C98079C633EA0AB3F6A577BB?partnerref=meta_fnn

Carahsoft NinjaOne Pluralsight Fortinet Cisco Appgate SolarWinds

09/28/2026

For federal employees covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), choosing a retirement date is more than an administrative decision. The date can affect:
- Whether you receive the final annual and sick leave accrual for a pay period
- How much unused annual leave is paid in a lump sum
Whether excess “use-or-lose” leave is preserved or forfeited
- When your FERS annuity begins accruing
- How long you may need to rely on savings before retirement payments begin

Read more on the best strategic retirement dates for federal employees under FERS in 2027: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-insights/2026/09/best-strategic-retirement-dates-for-federal-employees-under-fers-in-2027/

Sponsored by Federal Employee Benefit Advisors

You're ready for retirement, but do you know the best day to retire?

09/22/2026

AI. Critical infrastructure. Cyber resilience. Workforce readiness.

The challenges facing federal cybersecurity leaders continue to grow, and so do the opportunities to strengthen mission outcomes.

Join Cyber Leaders Exchange 2026, presented by Carahsoft, for conversations with leaders from CISA, DOE, HHS, Idaho National Lab, Navy, State Department, the White House and industry as they explore what’s next for federal cybersecurity.

Register now | https://event.on24.com/wcc/mr/6928917/C815A3A7C98079C633EA0AB3F6A577BB?partnerref=meta_fnn



NinjaOne Pluralsight Fortinet Cisco SolarWinds Carahsoft

09/21/2026

Retirement may feel like the finish line, but some of the biggest federal retirement decisions need to be made well before you get there.

On this episode of Fed Thread, Neil Cain, founder and CEO of Capital Financial Planners and lead trainer for RETFED, takes us through the choices that can become difficult—or impossible—to undo after a certain point.

We talk through technicalities of TSP moves, FEHB and Medicare elections, survivor benefits, tax implications, Roth conversions, beneficiary decisions and what can happen when an unexpected separation from federal service changes your timeline.

The underlying takeaway? Don't wait until retirement is right in front of you to start connecting the dots.

For a quick-reference guide to some of the most consequential, time-bound rules impacting decisions you should make before leaving federal service, listen to the full Fed Thread episode.

Learn more now | https://federalnewsnetwork.com/fed-thread/2026/09/no-mulligans-allowed-federal-retirement-choices-you-cant-do-over/

Sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

09/18/2026

Federal hiring is up 26 percent this year, yet headcount continues to fall. So is the federal workforce recovering, reinventing itself—or just trying to staunch the bleed?

On this episode of Fed Thread, Jeff Neal, retired DHS Chief Human Capital Officer and principal at ChiefHRO, provides color commentary on what’s really happening behind the OPM hiring numbers. Which jobs are coming back, which aren’t, why some positions were eliminated only to be needed again, and what the loss of institutional experience could mean for the government years from now.

We also dig into a less obvious problem: If the federal HR workforce itself has been reduced, who’s left to do the hiring? And how much does that matter when government hiring rules and processes are fundamentally different from the private sector—and also fundamentally flawed?

Whether you’re an HR wonk or simply a current fed needing practical advice on what to watch to predict changes for your role, listen to the full Fed Thread conversation.

Learn more now | https://federalnewsnetwork.com/fed-thread/2026/09/hiring-up-headcount-down-is-the-federal-workforce-rebound-real-or-repair/

Sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program