BREAKING NEWS

» Meeting the low expectations? Other voices: At the CDC, damage control would be a big win | Twin Cities Pioneer Press

» Sure, it might take months to resolve, but… CDC, after months of delays, gives employees 20 days to resubmit disability accommodation documentation | Government Executive

» Literally no one wants them around. Trump is staffing up agencies with political appointees. They’re not sticking around, new analysis finds | Government Executive

» No evidence? Just ask AI to create some for you 🙄 Judge Condemns RFK Jr’s HHS for Using Fake Studies | Newsweek

» Measles. At a Daycare. This is fine. Pub lic health officials in Georgia trace possible measles exposures after outbreak at a daycare | GPB

» Science these days - come up with the answer and then find the right political hack. HHS Hires Vax Skeptic for Deaths Investigation | Medpage Today

» 9/11 is still costing lives. Health: The Fight For The Health Of 9/11 First Responders | NPR

Welcome to the 78th 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, grabbing some FBF merch (www.firedbutfighting.org/shop), signing up to volunteer, or subscribing to the NationalPHC Substack. You can also check out the FBF Talent Marketplace to support a fired fed.

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

LEGAL UPDATES

» CDC RIF appeals were consolidated in the MSPB last week. If you have not already done so, we strongly encourage you to register and set up your profile in the MSPB e-Appeal portal so that you receive electronic notifications about your appeal.

» In lieu of a legal update this week, the FBF-L2883 joint legal team is taking the week off to honor Labor Day and encourage you to join your local union. So many of the ongoing lawsuits protecting or fighting to take back our fed rights have been filed by our unions, including RIF challenges and various agency reorganizations, Schedule Policy/Career changes, MSPB appeal regulatory changes, performance evaluations, EEO appeals, and restoration of collective bargaining rights. Your dues fund those lawsuits and pay the lawyers fighting for your rights. Solidarity forever. ✊

» You can read the most recent legal update here. Legally minded? Sign up to volunteer with our Legal Team.

CALLS TO ACTION

» Volunteer with Fired But Fighting: Do you have a special set of skills? We all need to channel our rage. Consider signing up to volunteer with us. We need help maintaining the events page, organizing gatherings and social events, or any way YOU would like to contribute to the cause.

» Get ready to vote with some resources we’ve compiled:

Everything You Need to Vote - Vote.org: Make sure you’re registered, see what’s on your ballot, find your polling place, etc.
Make sure you never miss another election or polling site change by registering at the nonpartisan TurboVote.
Sign up to be a poll observer and help ACLU Georgia and partners protect voters against intimidation and violation of their rights.
Have you ever considered serving as a poll worker? Did you know that this is one “side hustle” that doesn’t require EPATS approval for feds? Work Elections Project: Learn How to Become a Poll Worker.
Project HALO, a coalition of veterans, faith leaders, legal professionals, and community leaders, focuses on creating a welcoming, celebratory, nonpartisan presence around elections so every voter feels safe and respected at the polls. The Georgia chapter is in need of event organizers for upcoming elections. Organizers receive a small stipend. If interested, reach out to victoria.ayer@gmail.com.

» Public comment needed: In their most recent effort to change vaccine policy and disregard evidence, HHS released a Request for Comment as to whether the current three categories (routine, risk-based, and shared clinical decision-making) used in Federal vaccine recommendations are adequate. Read more about concerns that national medical organizations have about this innocuous-sounding “request for information” and leave a comment by September 20.

» Public comment needed: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has announced new proposed rules for managing federal sector discrimination complaints. The proposal would fundamentally change who decides whether a federal agency discriminated against its employees. The proposed rules would give the agency accused of discrimination greater control, weaken access to independent review, and force employees into expensive federal litigation. Learn more from Shaun Southworth and submit your comment by September 28.

» Public comment needed: Under White House direction, NIH is proposing changes to its grant application review process. Currently, each application is assigned a numeric rating, which is provided to applicants so they can compare their scores with other published awards and determine whether they need to strengthen their applications for funding. Under the proposed process, applications would be sorted into 3 broad categories, and the overall scores would not be released. These changes would reduce transparency and make it easier for applications to be denied for political instead of scientific reasons. Learn more about this issue and provide a comment by October 13.

» Los Vecinos de Buford Highway, a community organization supporting local families, has recurring needs for grocery donations, diapers, and rental assistance. Currently, they are helping about 60 families a month, all of whom have had a family member kidnapped by ICE. If you're able, consider donating.

EVENTS

flyer for an (un) happy hour and postcard-writing event taking place on September 19 at Sceptre Brewing from 2 to 5 and on October 1 at Wild Heaven Toco Hills from 5 to 8 — **Postcard-Writing (Un) Happy Hour**

You know those people who stay home during the midterms? Let’s motivate them. Attend one or both of these upcoming (un) happy hours and pitch in to our postcard-writing campaign. Learn more at FBF Events.

AIDS Walk Atlanta. Music festival and 5k run. September 26. Piedmont Park. — **FBF/NPHC Team AIDS Walk Atlanta**

» Get those steps in - and since Kelly Rowland is performing this year, get some dance moves in too. Register with the Fired But Fighting team for AIDS Walk Atlanta happening on September 26, 2026, at Piedmont Park.
Can’t walk the Walk this year? You can still donate to the team effort.

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

CAREER CORNER

» This week’s issue of the Career Corner is chock-full of great info and events, including a refreshed Hot Jobs section, lots of upcoming job fairs, and a FedSupport webinar on public views of the federal government and its future.

» Are you unemployed or underemployed? Generation JobSprint is accepting applicants for a 3-week career coaching course to help sharpen your skills and polish your resume. Applicants in Atlanta, DC, and Austin will receive priority. Apply now or download the pamphlet to learn more.

» Don’t forget to join the Opportunities for Former HHS Staff LinkedIn group and follow NPHC on LinkedIn to stay current on career-related events. Want to contribute to Career Corner? Sign up to volunteer.

UNION CORNER

» RA Updates — Many staff with pending RA requests received a message from HCA.accommodations@hhs.gov requesting medical documentation within 20 days. CDC has now provided guidance from HHS that this email is legitimate and employees should submit their medical documentation in a timely manner. Reach out to your supervisor if you received the email but did not receive any further guidance. L2883 recommends password protecting your private medical documentation before sending to the general inbox. You can then separately provide the document password to your RA coordinator.

» Call to Action: Proposed EEO Changes — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is proposing major changes to the federal EEO complaint process, including ending mandatory pre-complaint counseling, eliminating employees’ automatic right to a hearing before an EEOC Administrative Judge, and removing the administrative class complaint process. Read the full EEO change proposal and leave a comment by September 28th. Your comment matters — submitted comments create an official administrative record. If an agency ignores substantive evidence or fails to respond to major issues, the final rule can be challenged and overturned in court.

» AFGE Local 2883 Virtual Union & Benefits Briefing — September 23 at 6 PM ET: Join Union Benefit Organizer Ashley Lazenko on September 23 for a 30-minute virtual briefing on benefits available through AFGE and Benefit Architects, including dental and vision plans, short-term disability, hospital indemnity, critical illness and accident coverage, retirement options, and more.

» Join AFGE L2883 — If you’re not already a member, sign up to join the fight now. As a reminder, all job series (including supervisors) are eligible to join. The only exception is Commissioned Corps officers. https://join.afge.org/L2883

CDC MUTUAL AID

» Gear Up and Give Back with CDC Mutual Aid

If you’re looking for a way to show support and stay festive, this is the perfect time to grab your favorite piece. We’ve got something for everyone:

Visit the CDC Mutual Aid Network Store for more: https://cdc-mutual-aid-network.printful.me/

» Be Part of the Message: Share Your CDC Mutual Aid Merch Moments

If you have photos of yourself wearing CDC Mutual Aid merch, please share them with us. This will help us promote CDC Mutual Aid merch, reach new audiences, and strengthen our fundraising.

To participate, simply email your photos to cdcmutualaidnetwork@gmail.com. By emailing your photos, you agree to allow CDC Mutual Aid to use your submitted photo(s) for promotional and fundraising purposes. This may include social media, newsletters, merchandise promotion, and other outreach materials. A few optional guidelines to keep things simple:

You don’t have to show your face if you prefer not to
Please avoid including other people in the frame or background
Pups are absolutely welcome

Thank you for helping us amplify the mission and reach more people who care about community support ♥️

» Follow CDC Mutual Aid Network on Social Media.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cdc-mutual-aid-network
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdcmutualaid.bsky.social

THE WEEKLY NEEDLE

» The Weekly Needle is America’s most trusted news source for all things health and medicine. Enjoy our most recent story from this week:

» CDC Director Schwartz Really Pumped to Be Able to F*ck Up First Public Health Crisis in New Role. CDC Director Erica Schwartz heard at Roybal Campus asking, "This Ebola outbreak in the DRC — would you recommend I just tell people to stand next to infected people to ensure they develop natural immunity, aka death?"

» Please consider becoming a subscriber. Interested in contributing? Email us at theweeklyneedle@proton.me.

SPOON OF THE WEEK

» This week, we learned that a group of RIF’d CDC staff on administrative leave have chosen to donate their use or lose annual leave to current staff in in the voluntary leave transfer program. Despite being illegally terminated, these staff continue to support their colleagues in need.

» To submit a spoon for a future newsletter, email info@firedbutfighting.org.

FIRED AND THRIVING

» Did we see you at Dragon Con 2026 over Labor Day weekend in the ATL? You may have seen evidence of "DragonSpoons" in the form of our shared orange “Vaccines Cause Adults” and yellow “Saved by the Vax” badge ribbons, as well as cards for NPHC/FBF merch with a special Dragon discount code. We DragonSpoons were all over Dragon Con this year. Some attended panels, cosplayed, volunteered, donated blood, partied, met famous guests (and gave them our ribbons), marched in or watched the Dragon Con Parade, found one another, or reported back to the group chat. Will we see you at Dragon Con 2027? 🐉🥄

SELF CARE

» For the art lovers, check out the Chamblee Chalk Walk and Artist Market on September 12 at 10 am in Downtown Chamblee.

» Free Yoga with Amanda. Restorative Yoga Class Saturday, September 19 @ 10 am, Decatur Library. To register: https://events.dekalblibrary.org/event/16754614

» As People Live Longer, How Can We Live Better? | Greater Good Magazine

» Pink parrots jammin’ to Jolene? Yes, please.