Receiving a Reduction-In-Force (RIF) notice can be unsettling and stressful. It’s understandable if you feel anxious during this uncertain time. While you navigate these changes, you can take steps to care for yourself and protect your future. And even if you haven’t received a notice but are feeling concerned, there are thoughtful ways to prepare and feel more secure moving forward.

If you have received a notice, it is critical to retain your RIF documentation, particularly for future Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) challenges. Our USAID Community created this guide to outline what documentation you should compile and save.

For those who have not received a notice but would like to prepare, they created this guide offering suggestions for which documents to retain and how to advocate for yourself and your colleagues.

Should you be interested in supporting those who were RIF’ed in early October, you can donate to the AFGE Federal Employee Defense Fund. If you are a lawyer with a current bar membership, consider volunteering with Rise Up, the Federal Workers Legal Defense Network.

USAID’s fight against its own RIF also continues. According to OUC, more than 1400 Foreign Service Officers and Civil Service colleagues have filed appeals with the MSPB to date. Costs associated with these appeals continue to mount. For more information on how you can support the fight for accountability, please visit Pragmatic Panic’s website.

OneAID is also here to support you through this difficult time. Our network of community care resources is available on our website.

OneAID partner Our USAID Community is a volunteer-led group focused on informing our community to collectively and individually advocate for our rights. The group is closed to the public. If you worked at USAID and had a USAID.gov email address, we invite you to message volunteers@ourusaidcommunity.org for more information.