Issue 7

May 1

Welcome to the seventh issue of Fired But Fighting, a newsletter for illegally terminated and improperly RIF’d CDC employees. Read on for judicial and advocacy updates, links to media coverage, calls to action, tips, and resources.

To download a PDF of the newsletter, click here.

BREAKING NEWS

» Fired But Fighting created a memo highlighting data related to the impacts of the recent RIF at CDC, noting the programs impacted, types of positions impacted, and the states most affected by these job losses. Read it here and share it with partners, media, and your elected officials.

» Streamlined Access to Facts: To reduce the Signal noise, Fired But Fighting has created a Signal chat, FBF Updates & Resources. Only admins can post.

» If you were a probationary employee who was terminated and think that you were also RIF’d, we’re trying to get answers. Senator Warnock’s staffers are reaching out to HHS to get clarification, and we have asked James and Hoffman, who filed the MSPB class action, if they have any insight.

» Ossoff Town Hall Update: We went to Senator Jon Ossoff’s town hall on April 25. He spoke about Medicaid, health care access, and the future of Georgia’s CDC “our crown jewel.” He slammed the Trump administration’s attacks on the CDC as “foolish” and “shortsighted.” But many CDC-ers have felt Ossoff has been MIA when it comes to standing up for the illegally terminated and improperly RIF’d CDC employees. FBF asked the Senator some tough, important questions — and called him out when he avoided giving us a straight answer. Since the town hall, Sen. Ossoff has reached out to more fired CDC-ers and FBF. We will continue to use our voices and ensure he is in lock-step with our efforts to support public health and fired feds.

JUDICIAL UPDATES

» There have not been any significant changes to the lawsuits we’re following, but you can read the latest update here.

UNION CORNER

» AFGE National along with other unions and Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit on 4/28/2025 against the Administration to challenge the RIF. You can view the full complaint here.

» AFGE Local 2883’s Organizing Committee is actively training volunteers for bargaining unit petitioning across all series. Email petitions@afge2883ga.org with subject line: Volunteer Interest.

CALLS TO ACTION

» Tomorrow, 5/2: Join Fired But Fighting for a media training at noon.

» Saturday, 5/3 Protest: There are May Day rallies across the country on May 3rd, including one at Piedmont Park in Atlanta from 2:00 - 4:00 PM. Find a protest near you.

» Sunday, 5/4: Sen. Warnock will be holding a town hall in Fulton county on Sunday, May 4 at 3pm. Sen. Warnock has been a fierce advocate for CDC-ers and public health and we are grateful for his dedication to us and our mission. To attend the town hall register here.

» LAST CALL: The Fired But Fighting apparel fundraising sale ends on May 3. Proceeds go to fund the supplies and services needed to keep FBF running.

» Keep calling the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and telling them to vote against the dangerous “No Rogue Rulings Act” before it moves to the floor for a vote. A script, email template, and contact information are available here.

» Leave a Public Comment about the Trump administration’s plan to change Schedule F. The comment period ends on May 23rd.

» We’re still recruiting volunteers! Consider signing up to help the Fired But Fighting team. Want to help us write IG posts? Experienced in Canva or CapCut? Interested in helping people get new jobs? Love talking and working with partners? All our teams are looking for people, especially the social media, partnerships, and career development teams.

QUICK TIPS

» Freezing your credit is one of the best ways to protect yourself from data breaches, which are becoming more common (thanks, DOGE). You’ll want to do this with all 3 credit monitoring bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion. Freezing and unfreezing your credit is simple and free. Temporarily unfreeze when you are required to get your credit checked (e.g., new loan or credit card, etc.). This article from Nerd Wallet provides simple instructions: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-freeze-credit

» RIF’d federal employees are eligible for Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) for up to 18 months. Any dependents/exes that are on your insurance are too. Below are a few important notes - more details can be found here.

You will pay 102% of the full premium (i.e., your portion, plus your employer’s portion, plus a 2% fee)
When you sign up for TCC, you can switch to a different health insurance plan. This is helpful if you need cheaper or different coverage.
You must apply for TCC within 60 days of separation but cannot submit your sign-up form until after your separation date.
After your separation date, you will automatically (no need to do anything) get 31 “free” days of health insurance. This means you will automatically still be covered under your plan for 31 days after your separation date.
To sign up for TCC, submit form SF-2809 to: HRCS@cdc.gov from any address, which will automatically create a ticket.
Link to form SF-2809: https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf2809.pdf
Considering the Healthcare Marketplace as a FEHB alternative?
National: https://www.healthcare.gov/
Georgia: https://georgiaaccess.gov/

SELF CARE

» From now until May 29, Aspen Grove Counseling is hosting a support group for fired feds every Thursday evening. Visit the FBF Community Calendar for info.

» Conte Bikes in Toco Hills is offering fired feds 25% off an annual bike tune-up. If you're interested, email Colby at c.bryan@contebikes.com.

» The CDC Mutual Aid Network is a collaboration between CDC Workers, CDC Alumni, Fired But Fighting, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2883, and Working Families Power. The network is open to all CDC workers, including FTEs, fellows, and contractors. Request assistance, find additional resources, and donate if you’re able.