What does the National Security Council actually do, and how does White House thinking become national security policy?

Government Executive’s Tanya Ballard Brown gets into it with Ellen Knight at ClearanceJobs Connect, Oct. 16 at 11:30 a.m. in Reston, Va.

Details: buff.ly/NaaHo26

The Bureau of Prisons is making a second run at canceling its union contracts, this time with a fresh legal argument about national security. Erich Wagner connects the dots in a fight that’s far from over. buff.ly/HhBKZvq

They submitted the paperwork. They got deadline extensions. And HHS closed their disability accommodation cases anyway. Now some employees are left without accommodations they were relying on. Jory Heckman gets into what went wrong. buff.ly/ZtHoEQt

Some former feds found new jobs. Others are still trying to find a role that makes sense for the skills they built in government. Sean Michael Newhouse gets into why that transition has been especially tough for some. buff.ly/CwTm4zg

That 5% TSP contribution gets you the full agency match. But could lowering your contributions now cost you later? Federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan weighs what’s worth keeping in mind before you make the switch. buff.ly/VdBd7bZ

ICYMI: With the next GAO chief still to be chosen, this question is getting more interesting: Should the president have a say? Sean Michael Newhouse reported last month on the bipartisan push to give Congress the final word. buff.ly/dMQqa34

A NASA project born from a mystery in the night sky ended up helping people on the ground after disasters. Sean Michael Newhouse talks with the scientist behind that unexpected turn. buff.ly/haonVAh

The court said put the union contracts back. The Bureau of Prisons union says management hasn’t done it. Erich Wagner gets into the escalating fight over what happens next. buff.ly/ytg5aV1

A federal judge found BOP’s move to end its union contracts was likely pretextual. But at least one prison says it still isn’t recognizing the union. Erich Wagner gets into what’s happening at FCI Mendota. buff.ly/Wl18i2p

SSA is taking away a scheduling option employees say they depend on for care and medical appointments, setting up a fight with the union. Jory Heckman gets into what’s changing and why AFGE is pushing back. buff.ly/MWIj06z

TSA took away the chairs. The union is pushing back: Does standing really make officers better at their jobs? Sean Michael Newhouse gets to the bigger fight over pay, working conditions and collective bargaining at the agency. buff.ly/IGMbel0

The VA may be back on track to let its AFGE contract expire, but the court’s reasoning gets into some pretty important weeds. Erich Wagner follows the latest turn in this long-running fight. buff.ly/NVPTiy0

Foreign affairs agencies moved fast to cut staff and spending. New watchdog reports suggest some of those decisions moved faster than the planning behind them. Sean Michael Newhouse takes a closer look at what went wrong. buff.ly/Nfn5oti

A full slate is back on the Foreign Service Grievance Board. But its authority has changed, and the new members bring some notable ties and views. Jory Heckman gets into what that could mean. buff.ly/F2VZ6Lu

A $55 million watchdog budget is being cut to $20 million, a move the FHFA inspector general says could force an 80% staffing reduction. Sean Michael Newhouse gets into what follows and why Democratic leaders are calling for FHFA chief Bill Pulte to resign. buff.ly/BQXNJA4

Federal workers are facing another double-digit premium hike, but the averages don’t tell the whole story. Erich Wagner digs into the plans where costs are swinging wildly, including one that’s jumping 105%. buff.ly/gQj4WWO

The IRS says AI can help a workforce that’s roughly the same size as it was a year ago do more, from processing amended returns to closing the tax gap. Jory Heckman gets into what the agency is betting on. buff.ly/4Lwc7XP

Planning a 2027 federal retirement? Don’t pick your exit date on vibes. Federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan maps out the calendar dates that could make a real difference. buff.ly/i8fOof9

September was a rough month for #TSP investors, with nearly every fund slipping into the red. Erich Wagner tracks where the biggest losses landed and how the funds are doing so far this year. buff.ly/qGAQCkc

At EPA, a canceled union contract is headed for court, with AFGE accusing management of violating workers’ rights and dodging required procedures. Erich Wagner gets inside the clash. buff.ly/IprPLqR