PODCAST · news
Your Federal Life
by Federal News Network | Hubbard Radio
Each week, Drew Friedman and contributors to Federal News Network’s workforce coverage provide listeners with actionable information on the management of their careers and financial lives. Your Federal Life covers topics ranging from federal pay and benefits to retirement and retirement planning, hiring, career planning, and federal personnel policy.
Episodes
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Your Federal Life -- Oct. 14, 2026
The Government Accountability Office recently made big headlines with its report on the cost of the deferred resignation program. But there's more to the story, like the other factors to consider when calculating DRP costs versus savings, and the limitations of what we actually know about the...
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Your Federal Life -- Sept. 30, 2026
For decades, government reform efforts have focused on accountability, oversight and reducing risk. A new blueprint argues that approach may have left agencies better at avoiding failure than achieving success. In this two-part interview, we get more from Loren DeJonge Schulman, director of...
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Your Federal Life -- Sept. 2, 2026
When federal employee accountability cases drag on, attention usually turns to rules and protections. Maureen Klovers and April Harding discuss a new report from We the Doers, looking at what happens inside the process itself — and how it could be fixed. Plus, a difficult but important…
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Your Federal Life -- Aug. 12, 2026
As concerns about threats against judges continue to grow, members of the Supreme Court took the unusual step of personally advocating for additional security funding on Capitol Hill. Federal News Network’s Terry Gerton hears more from Isa Ulloa, founder and CEO of the Public Service Alliance....
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Your Federal Life -- July 22, 2026
The public's overall view of civil servants is trending upward, along with increasing public support for a nonpartisan federal workforce. Those findings come from a recent report from the Partnership for Public Service, whose research found that close to 65 percent of Americans believe that civil...
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Your Federal Life -- May 20, 2026
After upheavals across the federal workforce, and hundreds of thousands of public servants leaving their jobs, grassroots organizations have been rising to meet the moment. We hear from a co-founder of one of those organizations, Karen Lee of FedsForward. Her group has building tech-enabled tools...
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Your Federal Life -- April 29, 2026
During 2025, more than 348,000 federal employees quit, retired, were laid off or otherwise left their jobs. The losses affected a broad swath of the federal workforce, but seem to have disproportionately affected younger and less experienced employees. We take a look back with some data analysis...
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Your Federal Life -- March 25, 2026
The federal workforce faced a tumultuous year in 2025. There was a long hiring freeze, hundreds of thousands of employees leaving their jobs, a return-to-office directive — and lots more. Navigating through these changes has been a challenge not only for employees, but for the supervisors and...
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Your Federal Life -- Feb. 18, 2026
After a year of deep disruptions to the career civil service, lawmakers have created a bicameral caucus attempting to defend federal workers and promote long-term reforms. Its goals range from protecting the nonpartisan public service to improving federal pay and retention. We hear more from a...
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Your Federal Life -- Jan. 28, 2026
We the Doers is a new organization proposing a different path forward for government reform and improvements to agency performance. In our last episode, we featured the first part of this conversation. Now, we dive into the final piece of Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller’s...
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Your Federal Life -- Jan. 21, 2026
Over the last three decades, there has been no shortage of ideas for how to improve federal agency performance. But now, a group of former federal executives called We the Doers is offering a different path to reforming the government, based on more than 88 years of combined federal service. For...
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Your Federal Life -- Jan. 14, 2026
From TSP contributions to investment choices and building a stronger safety net, a few smart moves now can set federal employees up for financial confidence all year long. Certified financial planner Thiago Glieger joins us with helpful hints for building a strong financial plan in 2026. Plus,...
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Your Federal Life -- Dec. 17, 2025
Federal senior executives have some new training and development opportunities from the Office of Personnel Management. The optional courses cover many of the Trump administration’s new priorities for the federal workforce. OPM launched the training programs in November, but there will be...
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Your Federal Life -- Nov. 12, 2025
With Open Season underway, rising premiums may be top of mind for enrollees in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program. But there are other changes employees and annuitants will want to be aware of — like the plans entering or leaving FEHB, and benefits changes across the government’s...
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Your Federal Life -- Oct. 22, 2025
Today we are diving into all things Open Season. Whether you’re enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, or the Postal Service Health Benefits program — and whether you’re an active employee, or a federal retiree — there’s a lot to know about the upcoming one-month enrollment...
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Your Federal Life -- Oct. 15, 2025
The deferred resignation program has largely reshaped the federal workforce this year. The new program from the Trump administration asked employees to agree to quit their jobs in exchange for seven months of paid leave. The program ultimately led to more than 154,000 employees officially leaving...
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Your Federal Life -- Sept. 17, 2025
After the Office of Personnel Management canceled this year’s Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, competing ideas have emerged on how to approach the requirements for agencies to survey their employees, and what OPM’s role should be in those surveys for the long haul. We get perspectives from Rob...
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Your Federal Life -- Aug. 20, 2025
Agencies are facing tons of changing expectations from the Office of Personnel Management this year. In the last few weeks alone, OPM has told agencies how to think differently about awarding employees for good work, as well as how to implement recent changes to the federal probationary period....
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Your Federal Life -- Aug. 6, 2025
The final version of the One Big Beautiful Bill left most federal benefits untouched. But the reconciliation bill did introduce several new tax provisions that could impact how Americans save, contribute and plan for retirement. Thiago Glieger, a wealth advisor with RMG Advisors, joins us to help...
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Your Federal Life -- July 23, 2025
As it tries to cut hiring time, the Office of Personnel Management has converted the application process for senior executive positions to a two-page resume. The standard ECQ essays will be replaced by structured interview questions. Federal News Network's Terry Gerton got some advice on how to...
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Your Federal Life -- July 9, 2025
After President Trump’s return-to-office orders, some agencies are unsure how to proceed with updating their remote work and telework policies. The Government Accountability Office says the administration needs to issue new guidance to help agencies better measure the effects of their telework...
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Your Federal Life -- June 25, 2025
Some federal employees have historically relied on remote work as a reasonable accommodation to help them make meaningful contributions in their jobs. But the Trump administration's blanket return-to-office directive has upended those remote work arrangements — and caused uncertainty for feds who...
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Your Federal Life -- May 28, 2025
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Your Federal Life -- May 14, 2025
Federal employee benefits could be on the chopping block. That’s as GOP lawmakers move forward with their budget reconciliation bill. Republicans are considering everything from cutting annuity supplements, to charging a fee to file a case with the Merit Systems Protection Board. It’s all to save...
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Your Federal Life -- Apr. 2, 2025
How to manage the government, it's the national topic at the moment. Right now the government is managed by Elon Musk and Doge. Or by cabinet secretaries who seem hell-bent on cutting away at their departments. Or at least it looks that way. Should we have a Department of Management? My next…
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Your Federal Life -- Mar. 19, 2025
Some 40,000 federal employees did decide to resigned per the Trump administration's early fork-in-the-road offer. They've been promised full pay for the rest of the fiscal year. What about pension benefits? Or access to the Federal Employee Health Benefits plans? We get some answers from…
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Your Federal Life -- Mar. 12, 2025
Just what do you get if you're caught up in a reduction in force? Like those Education Department employees RIF'd just this week. And what about if you decide to retire early? Federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan has been getting lots of these questions lately. She joins me now with a few...
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Your Federal Life -- Mar. 5, 2025
Federal employees worried about their jobs are also worried about their family finances and health care coverage. In fact, cash flow and health care *should* be at the top of your concerns now. More now from RMG Financial Advisors certified financial planner Thiago Glieger. Plus, whether the…
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Your Federal Life -- Feb. 19, 2025
Events of the last few weeks have caused federal managers' heads to spin. The resignation offer, the closure of agencies, the new policy schedule. All these developments have sparked lawsuits. One of the litigants is the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. For some of the...
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Your Federal Life -- January 29, 2025
With the Fork-in-the-Road memo asking every federal employee to consider resigning, lots of feds are suddenly thinking of retiring. Don't let the weirdness of the situation push you into a hasty decision, though. I went over this in detail with federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan of Retire...
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Your Federal Life -- January 15, 2025
Federal employees, and to some extent all public servants, are wondering precisely what the next few days an months will bring. Lots of questions of a practical nature, like when will new Social Security benefits flow under repeal of old limitations. And, what happens Monday when Donald Trump...
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Your Federal Life -- Jan. 8, 2025
Far be it from us to spoil the optimism of the fresh, new year. But senior career managers in government might want to consider preparing for the worst. Suppose the coming Trump administration does get Schedule F in place. Are ready for a forced retirement or change in career? I got some advice,...
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Your Federal Life -- Dec. 18, 2024
A new feature arrives soon for participants in the Thrift Savings Plan. Starting in January 2026, a year from now, participants will be able to make Roth conversions within the TSP. That’s not the only changing at the TSP. Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman recently caught up with the TSP’s...
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Your Federal Life -- Dec. 4, 2024
The government might be operating on a continuing resolution. Individuals should take better charge of their own financial lives before the end of the year. Including optimizing your Thrift Savings Plan. We got some tips from RMG Advisors financial planner Thiago Glieger. Plus, thousands of…
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Your Federal Life -- Nov. 20, 2024
It's the season of seasons. Thanksgiving season. Christmas season. And for federal employees, it's the middle of open season, which runs until December 5. It has a lot of moving parts. For more, we turn to long time expert in all things having to do with federal employment and post-employment,...
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Your Federal Life -- Nov. 13, 2024
Open season means federal employees have homework. Time spent now planning for your health care coverage can pay off later … both in money and health. For some things to think about, I spoke with principal Thiago Glieger of RMG Advisors. Plus, the stock market continues to defy logic, something…
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Your Federal Life -- Nov. 6, 2024
Open season means federal employees have homework. Time spent now planning for your health care coverage can pay off later, both in money and health. For some things to think about, I spoke with principal Thiago Glieger of RMG Advisors. Plus, the stock market continues to defy logic, something it...
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Your Federal Life -- Oct. 30, 2024
Just eleven days until this year's federal open season. When federal employees choose their health benefits insurance provider for the coming year. More people skip the homework, looking at plans to see if its worth switching. But you should take the time, especially since so many plans are more...
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Your Federal Life -- Oct. 23, 2024
Lots of federal employees like to pin their retirements to the end of the year. It makes for nice closure on a career. But if you mean this year, there's no time to lose. Retirement is all about the planning you do ahead of time. I got the lowdown from one of the top retirement planning experts,...
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Your Federal Life -- Oct. 16, 2024
After a long road of trying to improve workforce morale, the Social Security Administration finally appears to be turning a corner. For the first time in years, SSA employees’ views on employee engagement, satisfaction and agency leadership are all trending positively, according to SSA’s results…
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Your Federal Life -- Oct. 9, 2024
No doubt you've heard. Price hikes for health insurance for federal employees coming next year. Big ones. Open season is coming soon, so it all brings lots of questions. For retirees, a smaller cost of living increase is likely. I got more from the vice president of the National Active and…
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Your Federal Life -- Oct. 2, 2024
When the stock market moves up and down, analysts always find one reason or another. Presidential elections, though, seem to consistently exert influence over market behavior. In other words, Kamala and Donald are affecting your thrift savings plan. More now from financial advisor Thiago Glieger....
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Your Federal Life -- Sept. 18, 2024
The shine has dulled for CD's, certificates of deposit, that looked like great investment vehicles when interest rates were higher. Just rolling them over may not be such a great wealth-building strategy. We got some tips for dealing with CD's from wealth advisor Thiago Glieger. Plus, the stock...
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Your Federal Life -- Sept. 11, 2024
It's taken a generation, but now federal benefits have become available for first responders harmed during the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The money was authorized in last year's National Defense Authorization bill. Federal News Network's Drew Friedman joined me when we got details from…
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Your Federal Life -- Sept. 4, 2024
Our theme today is not only what you earn and save, but what you leave behind. Anyone with a career, assets and perhaps a family needs a little estate planning. It might be arcane, but it matters unless you plan to live forever. That's why shrewd federal employees spend a lot of time ensuring not...
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Your Federal Life -- Aug. 28, 2024
To young service members, the idea of building wealth might seem like a pipe dream. They don't earn much and often have high borrowing and housing costs. But it's never too early to start. For some pointers, we turn to the president of the Navy Mutual Aid Association, retired Navy admiral. Brian...
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Your Federal Life -- Aug. 7, 2024
When the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board rolled out a new system for managing the TSP back in 2022, it didn't go well. Account holders encountered a web site that barely functioned and long wait times for help. Now the Government Accountability Office has released findings on what went...
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Your Federal Life -- July 30, 2024
The end of July isn't the end of summer. But the leaves are dryer and the cicadas louder. That means autumn, and time to think about end-of-year retirement planning. Tom Temin get some tips from federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan. Later in the show: national elections often have economic...
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Your Federal Life -- July 17, 2024
The Thrift Savings Plan's mutual fund window remains under the microscope of the House Appropriations Committee. A policy rider in fiscal 2025 spending legislation aims to ban any TSP investments based on environmental, social or governance , or ESG, criteria. The Federal Retirement Thrift...
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Your Federal Life -- June 26, 2024
A million dollars isn't what it used to be. Nearly 24 million Americans have at least $1 million of net worth. Still, financial people often say so-called middle class people, like government employees, you need to accumulate a million or two to ensure a comfortable retirement. A new book called...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Each week, Drew Friedman and contributors to Federal News Network’s workforce coverage provide listeners with actionable information on the management of their careers and financial lives. Your Federal Life covers topics ranging from federal pay and benefits to retirement and retirement planning, hiring, career planning, and federal personnel policy.
HOSTED BY
Federal News Network | Hubbard Radio
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Your Federal Life have?
Your Federal Life currently has 112 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Your Federal Life about?
Each week, Drew Friedman and contributors to Federal News Network’s workforce coverage provide listeners with actionable information on the management of their careers and financial lives. Your Federal Life covers topics ranging from federal pay and benefits to retirement and retirement planning,...
How often does Your Federal Life release new episodes?
Your Federal Life publishes regularly with 112 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Your Federal Life?
You can listen to Your Federal Life on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Your Federal Life?
Your Federal Life is created and hosted by Federal News Network | Hubbard Radio.
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