Weekly Federal Labor Roundup — VA & AFGE News (July 12–16, 2026)

This week brought fresh fights over civil-service protections, new pushes for transparency on plans to make federal jobs easier to cut, and some genuinely good news on union membership. Here’s what mattered for Department of Veterans Affairs employees and the wider federal workforce.

VA & Veterans

• The Department of Veterans Affairs says artificial intelligence (AI) will not replace human disability-claims processors — but Democrats warn staffing is still too thin. Government Executive reports VA officials made the pledge as lawmakers pressed on whether hiring can keep pace with the claims workload. Read more
• The VA is asking veterans and employees to weigh in on plans to shorten and streamline benefits application forms. Government Executive reports the agency reopened the comment period after advocates said the first round needed more public input. Read more
• The VA has begun searching for a cloud-based platform to speed up its legal document reviews. Washington Technology reports the agency wants modern tools to manage a growing volume of litigation records. Read more

Threats to Federal Workers’ Protections

• More than 50 House Democrats are demanding more transparency about Schedule F, the plan that could strip civil-service protections from thousands of federal workers. Government Executive reports the lawmakers want to know how many positions agencies intend to reclassify as at-will. Read more
• The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) says proposed changes to federal discipline rules would betray the nation’s public workers. The union warns the new rules would make it far easier to fire employees without fair process. Read more
• AFGE and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) are urging officials to scrap a proposed rule expanding non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for federal employees. The two unions told the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) the rule could be used to silence workers who report wrongdoing. Read more
• Uncertainty at the Social Security Administration is becoming a broader federal-workforce problem. Government Executive reports that staffing and leadership questions there are rippling out to how the whole civil service is managed. Read more

Union Wins & the Bigger Picture

• AFGE membership is rebounding, powered by courtroom wins and focused organizing. The union reports that recent legal victories and targeted outreach are bringing federal workers back to the table. Read more
• AFGE has filed a lawsuit challenging what it calls unlawful retaliation against a Federal Bureau of Prisons local union leader. The union says management punished the officer for doing legally protected representation work. Read more
• An arbitrator has ordered the Forest Service to restore telework and remote-work options it had cut. Government Executive reports the ruling reinstates arrangements the union argued were protected by contract. Read more
• AFGE, the largest federal employee union, has endorsed a slate of U.S. House candidates in Pennsylvania ahead of November’s election. The union says it is backing lawmakers who have stood up for federal workers’ pay and protections. Read more

Have a question or a workplace concern? Reach out to your AFGE Local 2328 representatives — we’re here for you.

In solidarity,
AFGE Local 2328 — Representing the employees of Hampton VA Medical Center