Newsletter: Sometimes, it’s okay to laugh
In some ways, it feels like we’re starting to settle into the rhythm of the next few years: it’s fast, it’s unpredictable, there are tough moments, and there are days when all you can do is laugh. I was thinking about that when I saw a post this week on “post-traumatic resilience:” people who show resilience during and after difficult situations have a strong sense of humor, resourcefulness in problem-solving, and a lot of grit and determination — all of which describe the caseworkers I know perfectly.
So let this be your irregular reminder that it is not only okay, but actually very helpful to take a second to laugh at whatever fresh absurdity is making its way across your desk today.
As always, if you have questions about our work or suggestions for how we can be helpful, please feel free to reply to this email, or reach out to me at anne@popvox.org.
Anne Meeker
Deputy Director
POPVOX Foundation
TOMORROW: Navigating Immigration Casework (Webinar)
Featuring expert attorneys and staff from the American Immigration Law Association (AILA), these sessions will explore the changing landscape of immigration casework, share strategies for successful agency inquiries, connect Congressional staff with valuable resources, including local AILA chapters, and feature practical insights on how Congressional offices can triage and manage immigration casework.
Immigration Casework for Business & Employment
Wednesday, April 30 at 12 PM ET
This session will cover an overview of employment-based immigration inquiries from AILA experts, including business visa cases, work authorization issues, and employer-sponsored immigration, with tips for successful agency communication and identifying resources.
Humanitarian & Family-Based Immigration Casework
Thursday, May 8 at 12 PM ET
AILA attorneys discuss processes and best practices for family reunification petitions, refugee/asylum cases, and humanitarian programs. This session covers common challenges in family-based immigration casework and effective strategies for agency communication.
Casework News
Local news investigates issues with PACT Act payouts, including the role of Congressional casework from Senator Ossoff’s [D, GA] office.
It’s passport season! Congratulations to the team from Sen. Warnock’s [D, GA] office on a successful event.
Hearings Roundup
Senate Veterans Affairs
Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Outreach to Support Veterans’ Mental Health: Tuesday, 4/29, 11:30 AM ET
House Veterans Affairs
Answering the Call: Examining VA’s Mental Health Policies: Tuesday, 4/29, 10 AM ET
Dignity Denied: The Case for Reform at State Veterans Homes: Tuesday, 4/29, 2:15 PM ET
House Foreign Affairs
The Need for an Authorized State Department: Wednesday, 4/30, 10 AM ET
House Appropriations
Oversight Hearing: US Postal Service: Wednesday, 4/30, 10 AM ET
Senate Aging
Never Again: Addressing the Rise of Antisemitism and Supporting Older Americans: Wednesday, 4/30, 3:30 PM ET
Agency News
SSA
Many immigrants who were placed into Social Security’s Death Master File have successfully petitioned to have their SSNs reinstated.
Social Security plans to convert large numbers of employees to Schedule F positions.
NOSSCR’s David Camp shares a chart showing how the rate of applicants who die while waiting for SSI/SSDI determinations and appeals has risen sharply since 2019.
The Niskanen Center published a report on the need for an IT overhaul for Social Security’s ability to access medical records in a timely manner.
Immigration
The Trump Administration reversed course on student visa cancellations, indicating that it is working on a new system to track and monitor student visas but would not make further changes or revocations in the meantime.
The State Department announced a comprehensive reorganization plan (side-by-side org charts here) that would dramatically change the agency’s international footprint and priorities.
DHS requested that Harvard provide disciplinary records for student visa holders, with failure to comply treated as a voluntary withdrawal from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) that allows US universities to host foreign students.
EOIR directed to issue denials in some asylum cases that are “unlikely to succeed” without a hearing. The move is intended to help clear the almost 4 million backlogged cases with EOIR.
The US has entered an agreement with Rwanda to deport migrants who cannot be deported to their countries of origin. At least one person has been deported to Rwanda.
IRAP has a new resource for SIV-holders who have received notice that their COM approval has been rescinded.
ICE published notice of a new contract with Palantir that will help the agency track self-deportations to prioritize certain categories (including violent criminals) for removal.
A federal judge ruled against the Trump Administration to allow passports with self-identified gender identity.
The termination of several immigration support contracts has left many immigrant children without representation at court hearings.
International students are rushing to erase their contributions to campus op-ed pieces.
Wake Up to Politics has a thoughtful piece on what “due process” is owed to specific groups of migrants.
#AfghanEvac has a new roundup of changes to immigration policy affecting Afghan allies.
VA
VA OIG released a new report noting complications in determining benefit eligibility dates for veterans under the PACT Act. OIG recommends the creation of a new aid tool for claims processors to help determine the most favorable eligibility date for veterans to avoid underpayments.
VA Secretary Collins filed a notice agreeing with the Trump Administration’s executive order limiting collective bargaining, but exempted several small labor groups that have not previously been involved in lawsuits against the Administration.
Agency staff cuts
A federal judge paused the Trump Administration’s ability to end collective bargaining for federal employee unions.
SBA’s COVID EIDL service center staff were laid off.
Unions and advocacy groups launched the Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Fund to help fired federal employees with the legal costs of contesting their dismissals, or to provide legal advice to workers worried about their jobs.
A new resume directory for former federal employees to find new jobs also recently launched.
An email glitch seems to have paused IRS layoff notices unexpectedly.
Are you waiting on CFPB responses? Read this.
New court filings have information on the specific staff cuts at CFPB that directly impact the agency’s ability to respond to Congressional inquiries on behalf of constituents. These include:
Reducing the number of employees in the Office of Legislative Affairs to one staffer
Reducing the number of employees in the Consumer Response division (which actually investigates inquiries, including Congressional inquiries), from 128 to sixteen employees
For scale, a separate federal affidavit by former CR chief Matt Pfaff notes that the Consumer Response division was projected to handle 5 million complaints in 2025. This means that if you have current casework with CFPB, expect considerable delays, and be prepared to manage constituent expectations for responsiveness.
IRS plans to end DirectFile
AP sources say that the Administration plans to end DirectFile, the pilot, free filing program rolled out across select states over the past two tax filing seasons.
IRS General Counsel issues guidance on scam losses
New guidance from the IRS General Counsel provides information on when taxpayers can deduct losses from scams or theft. TAS notes that this advice significantly expands the number of taxpayers who may be able to claim these deductions.
Health grants subject to manual review before payout
DOGE has issued guidance requiring HHS to manually review and approve all grant disbursements before they are paid out. Grantees are reporting significant delays in expected funds.
Emergency Housing Voucher program set to run out of funding
HUD’s Emergency Housing Voucher program, a pandemic-era program that provides rental assistance for people facing homelessness or fleeing domestic violence, is set to run out of funding by the end of next year without Congressional action to support the program. Currently, about 60,000 US households receive assistance through the program.
Student loan penalties rise
According to new data, 4 million student loan borrowers have been reported to credit bureaus for late payments this year, and only a third of the 38 million Americans with student loan debt are actively making payments. Lowered credit scores could have broader economic impacts. This article has tips for people facing involuntary collections.
Executive order revokes previous orders on federal building locations
A new executive order revokes two prior orders requiring federal agencies to prioritize historic buildings and central business districts when selecting locations.
Maybe worth a PSA: making a disaster plan for people with disabilities
NYT has a nice piece for people with disabilities on making a plan for natural disasters, including planning for medication refills, emergency power, disability-specific “go bags,” and pre-secured evacuation plans for locations that meet adaptive needs.
Watch out for a new phishing scheme
The Verge warns of a new phishing scheme targeting Gmail users — while your official accounts should be safe, Congressional staff are always potential hacking targets, including your personal devices.
Compounding layoffs across the public and private sectors strain unemployment
A study from the National Employment Law Project shows that laid-off workers still face administrative barriers to accessing UI benefits, including difficult websites, delayed decisions, and trouble reaching agencies by phone.
