58 MARCH-APRIL 2026 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Retirees Supporting AFSA’s Mission The past year has brought an assault on the professionalism of the Foreign Service, on AFSA, and on many of our individual members. Despite the efforts to weaken us, we remain fully capable of representing our members, who continue to do the important work of giving frank opinion and analysis, delivering essential services to our citizens abroad, and promoting U.S. interests through steadfast diplomacy. We have carried this out through conducting outreach to Congress, telling our story through the media, and representing our active-duty members facing difficult times. Members of the AFSA Governing Board are profoundly moved by the number of volunteers who The cost of these cases is staggering. We are also providing monetary and other support to USAID FS members who are appealing their RIFs to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Fortunately, we have received significant pro bono legal representation in some of our lawsuits, and your contributions to the Legal Defense Fund have carried us through 2025. In 2026 we expect a decision from the D.C. Circuit Court regarding our right to be recognized as a union while our case proceeds on the merits in district court. We also expect decisions in our other lawsuits and in MSPB RIF appeals. Should we prevail in any or all these cases, we expect the government to appeal. See page RETIREE VP VOICE | BY JOHN O’KEEFE AFSA NEWS Contact: okeefe@afsa.org have stepped forward to help AFSA through its current crisis. In particular, our retirees have risen to the occasion to help fundraise and contributed to the AFSA Legal Defense Fund and other efforts that sustain our day-to-day operations and keep our fight moving through the courts. Sometimes what doesn’t happen is as important as what does. Thanks in part to our legislative advocacy team, Kim Sullivan and Sean O’Gorman, initiatives negatively affecting retirees never made it to a vote in 2025. For the year ahead, expect continued court battles on AFSA’s recognition as a union, the illegal dismantling of USAID and USAGM, and the State Department reductions in force. 55 for details on each of the lawsuits in which AFSA is involved. We have alumni chapters spread throughout the country. If you would like to stand up one of these informal groups in your area, we would be pleased to help. As a start, you might look at the 2025 alumni directory to see who else lives in your area. There are already active groups in Florida, Minnesota, California, Maryland, Virginia, and states in New England. For a full list of retiree associations, visit https://afsa. org/retiree-associations. With the rewrite of the Foreign Service Act on the horizon, we will monitor the provisions that could affect FS retirees. We may call on you to contact your representative and senators to express your views on pending legislation. To all my fellow retirees, all the best for 2026. n Webinar Work for America AFSA recently hosted a webinar with Work for America, featuring Stacy Igner of the organization’s Civic Match team. The session, moderated by AFSA’s Counselor for Retirees and Alumni Brian Himmelsteib, focused on helping federal employees and retirees explore career opportunities in state and local government. Work for America is a nonpartisan nonprofit created to virtual job fairs, résumé Q&A sessions, and partner resources such as free coaching and career-skills training. Igner shared success stories of candidates who moved into meaningful state-level roles through the platform. Participants asked about age and retirement considerations, residency rules, and how to translate federal or overseas experience into language that resonates with local employers. Igner emphasized tailoring résumés to specific roles, to address the staffing crisis facing state and local agencies, where many employees are nearing retirement and too few new workers are entering public service. Its Civic Match platform helps bridge that gap by connecting professionals, especially former federal workers and contractors, with open roles across the country. In addition to job listings, candidates gain access minimizing federal jargon, and clearly highlighting transferable skills. She also confirmed that Foreign Service spouses and federal family-member employees with prior government experience are eligible to participate in the Civic Match program. Igner encouraged attendees to create or update their Civic Match profiles and take advantage of the platform’s tools and events. A recording of the webinar is available at https://afsa.org/ afsa-videos. n
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