A gif of a man wearing an American flag standing in front of a giant, breaking wave. The word “Chaos” appears in large font — Chaos reigns! But we have your back.

BREAKING NEWS

» On October 20, Ossoff, Warnock, and 5 other senators sent Kennedy some hate mail demanding he answer for the 10/10 shit show.

» Assault on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—Budget Cuts, Political Control, and the Erosion of Trust | JAMA

» Anti-science bills hit statehouses, attacking longstanding public health protections | PBS News

» 🚨Brief Survey Response Requested (CDC ONLY): NPHC is collecting data on expertise lost since Jan. 20, 2025. Please complete this short survey and share widely with your colleagues.

» Welcome to Week 4 of the second-longest government shutdown in history. Lucky us. The Senate voted again today, but no agreement was reached.

NEW Zombie Apocalypse metal band tee. “We believe in public health” garden signs.

various Fired But Fighting merchandise, including new products like a CDC zombie apocalypse tee and a “we believe” garden sign

Welcome to the 32nd issue of Fired But Fighting, a newsletter for illegally terminated, improperly RIF’d, chaotically reinstated, and current HHS staff. Read on for judicial and advocacy updates, links to media coverage, calls to action, tips, and resources.

Please consider supporting us by making a donation or grabbing some FBF merch.

Visit www.firedbutfighting.org/newsletter-library to read this and previous issues of the newsletter on the web.

» The National Public Health Coalition’s website is live. We will be moving some of our activities, such as media outreach and advocacy, under NPHC. Acts of resistance and support for our workforce (including this newsletter) will remain under Fired But Fighting. Keep an eye out for emails from @nationalphc.org for updates about this exciting new chapter.

LEGAL UPDATES

As the dust has settled from the 10/10 RIFs, we have a clearer picture of which units have been targeted for elimination, not to mention the sloppiness of HHS's work in executing them. This week's legal update covers the current status of AFGE's lawsuit against the shutdown RIFs in the Northern California District Court, information about how to appeal your RIF to the MSPB, and how you can advocate for yourself and organize for legal action.

LEGAL UPDATE

SHUTDOWN & RIF RESOURCES

» If you recently received a RIF notice, please check out FBF’s RIF QuickLinks, which includes a compassionate RIF guide for HHS employees, lessons learned from fired probies, and unemployment information.

» There are many uncertainties about the ongoing government shutdown. We’ve added a shutdown section to the FBF resources page to help support you.

» Freebies in solidarity: Kaiser is waiving copays for furloughed employees. Show your government ID at Enterprise for discounts on rental cars. Many Starbucks shops offer free coffee to furloughed feds. Show your government ID at Ark Coffeehaus in Chamblee for a 15% discount. Free (or pay-what-you-can) classes at Radiant Flow Yoga in East Point, GA. $2 off all drinks at any Wild Heaven taproom for furloughed feds.

» Here are some additional furloughed feds offers:

RESOURCES

CALLS TO ACTION

» Sign this petition by Defend Public Health demanding all CDC employees be reinstated as a condition of reopening the government.

» Sign this petition in support of CDC library staff, who have not been reinstated after the October 10 RIFs.

» Were you recently separated from CDC? The CDC WISE Survey, led by Dr. Greta Massetti, former CDC-er and professor at GSU, seeks to understand the experiences of former CDC staff, contractors, and fellows. The survey takes 20-30 minutes, is anonymous and confidential, and will help inform efforts to support separated employees. Contact INSPIRElab@gsu.edu with questions.

» Early voting is ongoing in Georgia for the November 4 local elections. 11Alive has information on early voting locations and sample ballots, and Atlanta Civic Circle, Civic Atlanta, and Ballotpedia have information on endorsements, candidates, and ballot measures. Check your voter registration status and polling location at the GA Secretary of State’s MyVoter page.

» Join fellow CDC staff for the Out of Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk on November 2. Get more details and a t-shirt for the walk on their Bonfire page.

» Take action with Defend Public Health. Continue to contact members of Congress and encourage them to stand firm on the budget. You can also help fill Senator Wyden’s Finance Committee inbox to provide a clear and strong message that the public health community does NOT support RFK Jr. or his policies.

» Attend the Healthbeat live storytelling event on November 3, featuring the voices of people working on issues related to community health in Atlanta. Register on eventbrite to attend.

» Share Your Story. We’re looking for #FedWorkerFriday contributors for Bluesky and Instagram. Public or anonymous. DM Aryn on Signal (@aryn.22) if you’re interested.

» Volunteer with Fired But Fighting: Looking for ways to channel your rage? Sign up to volunteer. We’re especially looking for volunteer coordinators and finance folks.

EVENTS

Don’t forget to keep an eye on FBF’s events page for updates between newsletters.

a detailed description of the CDC Alumni Recognition Ceremony follow link for details and registration — » Oct. 24: The CDC Alumni group has organized a recognition event for terminated CDC employees and fellows, with a message: We see you. We recognize your contributions. We value you. Your work matters. Terminated employees, please complete this registration form.

Solidarity Saturday and (Un) Happy Hour. October 25th, 2-5 pm. Diverse hands clinking glasses of beer and wine — » Oct. 25: AFGE L2883 and Fired But Fighting are pairing up for a joint event at Napoleon’s Grill from 2:00 to 5:00. RSVP here.

» Join Compassionate Atlanta and The Sandwich Project on November 2 at 2 pm ET to assemble sandwiches for our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Register at Eventbrite.

event flyer — » Join the next meeting of the unnamed dinner club, titled “Science Under Siege: What You Can Do About It,” on November 3 at 6:30pm ET.

CAREER CORNER

Here are some of the career-related events coming up. Join the Opportunities for Former HHS Staff Group and follow Fired But Fighting on LinkedIn for more. We’ve also collected Unemployment & Career Planning Resources on our site.

» Join FBF and the Graduate Career Consortium for a virtual workshop: Updating Your Resume with AI: Thoughtful Strategies to Align with Industry Norms & Stand Out. Friday, October 24 @ 12 pm EDT REGISTER HERE. This session will NOT be recorded.

» Tracy Hoexter is offering a complimentary Express Headshot for any recently laid-off federal employee.

» October 30: National Tech to Gov Virtual Hiring Forum + Job Fair, 12-3 pm ET.

» October 31 - Career Mapping and Planning from 12:00 to 1:00 pm: Join Pathways Forward and FBF/NPHC for discussion about how to explore different career paths, identify your long-term goals, and create a step-by-step roadmap for growth and success. Register here.

» Introducing the Data Greenhouse, an initiative created by our fellow Spoons who brought us data upskilling courses after the April RIFs. Their recently launched website features training, project-based upskilling, a free community learning forum, and more.

WEEKLY 27 uNIHted

Federal workforce coffee hour flyer — If you’ve been fired, reinstated, on admin leave, don’t know your employment status, or are worried about being RIF’d, come join fellow feds who *get it* for an hour of camaraderie in Northern Virginia. Download the flyer.
» Every Saturday - Vigil commemorating the lives and knowledge lost through NIH cuts. Black attire encouraged. 10 am at the Medical Center Metro.
» Please follow and share 27 uNIHted’s new Instagram account >>

UNION CORNER

» If you received a reduction in force notice on 10/10, please fill out this form to help us collect more information on the RIFs.

» AFGE Local 2883 held a RIF Town Hall on 10/17. A recording was sent out to all members. You can also email info@afge2883ga.org for a copy.

» RIF guidance is also available on our website at https://www.afge2883ga.org/rif-guidance.

» If you’re not already a member, sign up here to join the fight now! https://join.afge.org/L2883!

CDC MUTUAL AID

» Join us in celebrating a remarkable milestone — $50,000 in aid provided to 48 families through the CDC Mutual Aid Fund! Help us show support for our CDC colleagues who have lost their income and are facing financial difficulties.

» Donate or share our message at www.cdcresourceportal.org/donate.

» Check out our new store! This is the perfect place to find Halloween-themed CDC merch, Save CDC signs, and more.

» Find resources like our new Shutdown Survival Guide at www.cdcresourceportal.org/resources.

THE WEEKLY NEEDLE

The Weekly Needle is America’s most trusted news source for satirical medical news. Started by people who care about science, health, and something approximating truth, The Weekly Needle is here to give you the stories you need to know. Here are a few of our stories and headlines from the past few weeks that we at The Weekly Needle think you should read. Please consider becoming a subscriber by following the link here. Interested in contributing? Email us at theweeklyneedle@proton.me.

SPOON OF THE WEEK

The Golden Spoon trophy — A RIFd CDCer was having trouble getting TCC. Their partner is undergoing cancer treatment and they can’t not have insurance. This person called the TCC number to no avail. Our Spoon of the Week is CDC OHR staff both separated and still employed, who worked and got their colleague's TCC paperwork processed the next day.
To submit a spoon (e.g., spooning pets, spoon tattoos, your favorite spoon) for a future newsletter, email info@firedbutfighting.org using “spoon of the week submission” in the subject line.

FORK(LIFT) OF THE WEEK

The demolition of the white house east wing — *Kevin Dietsch, Getty Images*

POV: You’re so jealous of the last president’s house that you knock it down to prove “yours” is better.

If you’re a temp - not even a renter - can you demolish the East Wing and build a gilded ballroom? No permits, no problem. We don’t need no stinking “oversight.”

SELF CARE

» Looking for something to feel hopeful about? This article explains how a peaceful protest by just 3.5% of Americans can force changes from the Trump administration.

» The Henry County chapter of the NAACP is hosting a drive-through dinner, grocery giveaway, and more for federal workers. Download the flyer to register for the event, which will take place this Friday, October 24, at 7 pm at the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Stockbridge.

» For the readers, Project Gutenberg offers a free library of over 70,000 ebooks.

» Sign up for Pluto TV for free streaming of 100s of movies, TV shows, and live TV channels.

» Khan Academy is a learning resource for all ages, with courses available on math, science, computing, and much more.

» The Atlanta Public Schools student and family support hub offers food drives, a department store, and a grocery store for APS families.

» Get Fit, Feel Great, for FREE. The Atlanta Beltline offers a variety of free fitness classes for Atlanta residents.

» Technologists for the Public Good is partnering with Empower Work to offer free, confidential counseling sessions. Check out their website for details.

» Align Wellness Atlanta offers trauma-informed therapy, guided meditation, workbooks, online courses, and more.

» The Georgia Library System offers free resources for Georgia residents, including access to thousands of ebooks, experience passes to locations across the state, and many more that you can access from your laptop.