A: It is possible that the Department will place you on paid administrative leave following the issuance of a RIF notice. You may also lose access to your government IT systems and physical office space. In anticipation of such events, AFSA has prepared a “go bag” list of items you should begin compiling and collecting.

A: You should follow the instructions in your RIF letter. Regulations provide that specific notices will be sent to those selected for separation at least 120 days prior to the effective date of separation and will contain the following information:

• The effective separation date
• The competition group; information on entitlement to an immediate annuity or separation payment
• Information on the right to either file a grievance with the agency office responsible for grievances or appeal to the Foreign Service Grievance Board (FSGB) or to the Merit Systems Protections Board (MSPB)*
• The member’s numerical position on the retention register
• The total number of employees separated from the member’s competition group
• Confirmation of eligibility for participation in the job search/transition program (JSTP), including per diem for members and family for program duration for those assigned outside of Washington

When necessary, the Director General may authorize a notification period of less than 120 days but must provide for at least 30 full days before the effective date of release. The notice period begins the day after the employee receives the notice.

*However, please see the comments above which provide the limited basis upon which a RIF may be grieved.

A: It is extremely difficult to grieve a RIF action. The Foreign Service Act provides: “Grievances under subchapter XI shall be limited to cases of reprisal, interference in the conduct of an employee's official duties, or similarly inappropriate use of the authority of this section.” (FSA 4010(a)(c)). The Foreign Service Grievance Board has interpreted this language very narrowly. If you believe the agency did not follow the published RIF regulations, challenge your separation before the Merit Systems Protection Board, not the Foreign Service Grievance Board. Employees should consult with AFSA or private legal counsel prior to initiating a grievance or MSPB case.

A: If you have a particular question or concern about the wording of the letter you’re welcome to send it to us. If you do, please explain precisely what your concern is. In the event of a RIF, we may be hearing from literally hundreds of people, so the more specific you can be, the better. If you don’t have a specific question or concern, we do not need a copy of your letter. We will not be maintaining a list of everyone RIFed.

A: 3 FAM 6140 addresses benefits in the event of a RIF. If the FAM does not answer your particular question, you can write to OGC@afsa.org and provide your age, grade, and years of service, and we will be able to tell you generally what you should expect to receive. Detailed individual questions should be directed to your retirement counselor in GTM/RET, who will have your full file.

A: Employees separated by a RIF prior to reaching the age and years of service required for a voluntary retirement may receive their full retirement or severance pay.

FS-1s and above in that situation would receive an immediate annuity for the rest of their life regardless of their age and years of service. FS-2s and below in the Foreign Service Pension System retirement plan would receive a severance pay equal to one-twelfth of a year’s salary at his or her current salary rate for each year of service but not exceeding a total of one year’s salary.

A: If you receive an immediate annuity, you retain your FEHB benefits into retirement. If you aren’t eligible to keep your FEHB permanently, you will still maintain your health benefits for 30 days. Detailed guidance on health benefits in a RIF is available on the AFSA website. If you have individual questions not answered there please contact us at OGC@afsa.org. You can apply for Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC), the equivalent of COBRA, which keeps you on your current plan for up to 18 months, but this is very expensive. You will be required to pay your and the agency’s premiums, plus an administrative fee so you may want to consider going on your state’s exchange to look for a completely new and potentially less expensive plan.

A: This PowerPoint summarizes benefits at retirement, resignation, and separation.

Keep in mind that AFSA’s online guidance is not meant to be a substitute for the multi-hour presentation by the Department of State’s subject-matter experts at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI)'s retirement planning seminars. Employees who can attend those seminars are urged to do so. Both virtual and in-person sessions are scheduled in the coming months. For those details, click here.

For those looking for retirement resources, AFSA has a wealth of retirement planning information on our website, which includes videos of presentations by some of the same subject-matter experts who present at FSI as well as a video of the December 2024 AFSA webinar "Retirement Planning for Employees at or near Retirement Eligibility."

A: AFSA continues to advocate for authorizing Foreign Service early retirement below the current voluntary threshold. If Congress agrees on any early retirement authority, AFSA expects it will be attached to a larger legislative vehicle such as a State Department Authorization Act or a National Defense Authorization Act. AFSA is exploring all legislative vehicles to help carry the new authority.

It's important to note that even if there is a possibility of passage of an early retirement authority, AFSA does not expect it to be in place before those who have already received RIF notices are separated from the Service.

We're urging our members to continue contacting your representatives to support the authorization of a Foreign Service early retirement option. You can access our outreach template here.

A: We will communicate regularly with our members through Friday "roundups” and separate email messages when necessary, so please ensure that our membership department has a valid personal (not.gov) email address where you can receive those.

A: AFSA is exploring all potential legal avenues to challenge a RIF at the Department of State. We are also closely monitoring relevant cases pending before courts within the United States.

We will continue to update our members with information on the legal front as they develop, including steps AFSA will take to challenge a RIF.

• AFSA Member Messages
  • Friday Round-Up: Litigation Updates and ICYMI Highlights
• Actions by AFSA
  • Press Release: AFSA Statement on the Dismantling of USAID

• Old RIF FAM link
• AFSA Member Messages
  • RIF Update: What You Need to Know
  • AFSA’s Position on Reductions in Force
• Actions by AFSA
  • Press Release: AFSA Urges State Department to Comply with Federal Injunction, Halt Planned RIFs

• Kari Lake letter to Congress re RIF
• June 20th letter to workforce on RIF