Our Fight for Employees Issued Shutdown RIF Notices

 
NTEU is fighting back against any separations that may result from the disgraceful Shutdown RIFs initiated last week by the administration. Here is what you need to know:

• We will send out a member survey soon to gather information and documentation from our members who received Shutdown RIF notices on or after October 1. We need this information to assist us in determining the best course of action(s). So far, we have received example RIF notices from chapters at the IRS, HHS, and Treasury Departmental Offices. Through the survey, we will gather additional information.
   
• You do not need to file anything with the Merit Systems Protection Board or any other forum. Employees have received only a RIF notice at this point, with no guarantee that agencies will move forward with separations once the 60-day notice period concludes. There are 30 days for appeals to be filed at the MSPB after the effective date of separation (i.e., sometime in January 2026. We will follow up with next steps for separated employees well in advance of that filing deadline, if separations are indeed carried out).
   
• We will be filing institutional grievances challenging agencies’ failure to bargain with NTEU prior to sending out Shutdown RIF notices. As part of the remedy for those violations, we will seek a return to the status quo, meaning the agencies would be required to bargain any Shutdown RIF with NTEU prior to moving forward with any aspect of it (including the issuance of notices). A return to status quo would have the effect of reversing anything that occurred regarding the Shutdown RIFs.
   
• We are exploring potential legal avenues to challenge the Shutdown RIFs and will have more to report about that in the near future.

 
We have your back and will fight for our members to stop these ridiculous shutdown RIFs through every available means. You deserve better than to be treated as pawns in a shutdown fight. We are here for you. Contact your members of Congress today to tell them how the shutdown is affecting you, your family and friends.
 
We will update you soon with additional information.