56 JULY-AUGUST 2025 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL After eight years, this is my final column as your retiree vice president. Drawing on my earlier experience as the director of the Department of State’s Office of Retirement, most of my columns focused on the nuts and bolts of Foreign Service retirement rules and procedures. I wrote these columns because, when it comes to federal retirement benefits, what you don’t know can hurt you. Lack of knowledge of long-standing or newly implemented policies can result in a benefit being denied, to the financial detriment of you or your survivors. I will have a final bite at the apple in the SeptemberOctober Foreign Service Journal, which is scheduled to print my article “Twelve Retirement Pitfalls to Avoid.” After that, I defer to AFSA’s knowledgeable retirement services team to keep you updated via content in this journal, the AFSA website, the bimonthly AFSA Retirement Newsletter, and the front section of each annual AFSA Directory of Retired Members. As I step down, my bottom-line advice is to take ownership of your retirement financial plan. Pay attention to AFSA updates on retirement issues. Monitor your Thrift Savings Plan account and any other investments to ensure that stocks-versus-bonds balance is appropriate for your investment timeline and risk tolerance. Maintain your AFSA membership to help fund the salaries of staff members who keep you updated on retirement issues and defend your earned retirement benefits on Capitol Hill. I wish you a long, happy retirement. n When it comes to federal retirement benefits, what you don’t know can hurt you. Parting Advice RETIREE VP VOICE | BY JOHN K. NALAND AFSA NEWS Contact: naland@afsa.org AFSA Defends the Foreign Service in Court Since January 2025, AFSA has taken decisive legal action to defend the Foreign Service, protect its members, and preserve the institutions that enable the United States to lead with influence rather than force. In AFGE et al. v. Trump, filed in District Court of Washington, D.C., on February 6, AFSA is challenging the unlawful dismantling of USAID. After a temporary initial restraining order paused administrative leave and evacuations, the judge denied the union’s request case for a preliminary injunction, and both sides filed a motion for a summary judgment asking the judge to rule in their favor based on the pleadings filed in the case. In Widakuswara et al. v. Lake, filed in the Southern District of New York on March 21, and later moved to the District Court in Washington, D.C., AFSA joined other unions and journalists to challenge the shuttering of USAGM and removal of staff without due process. A preliminary injunction ordered the restoration of employee status and grant funding. While parts of the order were stayed on appeal, critical protections remain in place following recent rulings. AFSA also filed suit in AFSA v. Trump et al. in the District Court of Washington, D.C., on April 7, to block an executive order that stripped union rights from Foreign Service members at the State Department and USAID. On May 14, the U.S. District Court granted AFSA’s motion for a preliminary injunction, finding the executive order unlawful as applied to agencies with AFSA-represented employees. On May 16, however, a three-judge panel on the D.C. Circuit stayed a similar injunction in a related National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) case, allowing the administration to resume its campaign to revoke union rights allegedly based on national security grounds. While AFSA’s case is distinct, a future appeal may test the limits of this ruling. AFSA remains committed to protecting the Foreign Service and upholding democratic principles. For full, detailed updates on AFSA’s lawsuits, please visit https://afsa.org/afsa-lawsuit-tracker. n AFSA remains committed to protecting the Foreign Service and upholding democratic principles.
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