Editor, FedTools
Jonathan D.
Editor of FedTools. U.S. federal employee with 20+ years of federal experience, publishing under a pen name to keep outside writing cleanly separated from official duties.
Jonathan D. is the editor of FedTools and is publishing under a pen name. He is a U.S. federal employee with more than 20 years of federal experience and built FedTools to give fellow federal employees a modern, transparent alternative to the legacy worksheets and PDF charts that still dominate federal-benefits search results. He chose to publish under a pen name to maintain a clear separation between his official duties and his outside writing — a separation explicitly encouraged by the federal Standards of Ethical Conduct (5 CFR Part 2635) and by the appearance-of-impropriety standard. Jonathan is not a registered investment advisor, attorney, CPA, or financial planner. Every calculator, blog post, and resource on FedTools is written, audited, and edited by him personally, with editorial direction informed by ongoing conversations with federal employees, retirees, HR specialists, and benefits advisors. Where FedTools projects, models, or estimates, the underlying formulas and primary OPM / GAO / CRS / BLS / FRTIB source data are linked inline so readers can verify the math themselves. FedTools is an independent commercial project; it is not affiliated with OPM, OMB, GSA, the TSP, or any federal agency or department.
Recent posts by Jonathan D.
- 27 Pay Periods in 2026: What Federal Employees Must Do Before December
2026 has 27 federal pay periods. Your 27th check lands December 31. Here's how to fix your TSP math, understand the FEHB skip, and use the extra paycheck.
- DoD VERA/VSIP May 2026 Update: Army Phase 2, H.R. 7256, and the $25K vs $40K Question
Every DoD component's VERA/VSIP status as of May 2026. Army Phase 2 active, Navy modeling deadline Sept 30, H.R. 7256 would triple buyouts for GS-13s.
- The $120K Fertility Benefit Rule Just Dropped: What It Means for Federal Employees on FEHB
DOL's proposed rule (FR 2026-09479) creates a $120,000 standalone fertility benefit for private employers. It doesn't change FEHB directly. Here's what federal employees need to know before July 13.
- Your Federal W-2 Decoded: Every Box, Every Federal-Specific Quirk (2026 Edition)
Federal employee W-2 guide: why Box 1 is lower than your salary, every Box 14 code (FEHB, TSP, FERS-RT), Box 12 D vs AA, and what actually requires action on your return.
- The 65-Year-Old Federal Retiree's FEHB+Medicare Decision: 2026 Math Across 5 Income Brackets
The FEHB+Medicare Part B decision comes down to your income bracket. FedTools original 2026 analysis: 5-bracket cost comparison, IRMAA trap, and the break-even point for each tier.
- How Your FERS Annuity Is Taxed in 2026: The Federal Math, the State-by-State Reality, and the 1099-R Decoder
FERS annuity taxation explained: Simplified Method math, OPM CSA 1099-R box-by-box guide, 50-state pension tax table, and 2026 updates for Colorado and Michigan.
- The FERS COLA Penalty: $111,080 in Lost Annuity Over 25 Years (Original 2026 Analysis)
A $50,000 FERS annuity has lost $111,080 in cumulative payments vs CSRS since 2000. See the year-by-year compound table and what 2027 adds to the gap.
- FERS Disability Retirement 2026: The Two-Formula Math and What You'll Actually Receive
FERS disability pays 60% of high-3 in year one, then 40%. But at 62, the math flips. Run the actual dollar calculation before you file.
- Navy DRP 2026: Eligibility, $46,800 Severance Gap, and the Decision Framework
Are you eligible for the Navy DRP in 2026? Full eligibility matrix, grade-by-grade payment table, and a 5-question decision framework before you sign anything.
- Federal Performance Awards 2026: How Much Is Your Bonus Worth After Tax?
OPM performance awards 2026: cash award caps, QSI dollar value by grade, the 1% Level 3 ceiling, and the 29.65% federal tax bite. Original FedTools data table.
- PSHB Explained: What USPS Employees and Retirees Need to Know in 2026
PSHB replaced FEHB for 1.9 million USPS workers on Jan 1, 2025. 2026 premiums, Medicare Part B mandate, plan options, and the true cost for retirees.
- TSP Balance by Years of Federal Service: The Median, Top Quartile, and Path to $1M (2026 Data Report)
Projected TSP milestones at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of service, plus the FRTIB balance-tier table that shows what millionaires actually contributed for.
- TSP vs 401(k): The $432,000 Fee Advantage Most Federal Workers Miss
The TSP costs 0.04% per year. The typical private 401(k) costs 0.52%. Over 30 years on a $500K balance, that gap compounds to $432,400 in fees you never pay.
- How to Verify Your FERS Annuity Estimate Before You Retire (And Why You Should)
A step-by-step process to independently verify your FERS annuity calculation before OPM finalizes it. Protect yourself from errors that cost $50K–$200K over a 20-year retirement.
- Federal Workers Took a 2.8% Real Pay Cut in 2026: The 17-Year Math
1.0% raise + 3.8% April CPI = -2.8% real. GS-13 Step 5 DC is $16,059/yr behind inflation-adjusted 2010. Federal pay buying power down 13.6% since 2009.
- OPM Got My Annuity Wrong: Spot FERS Errors Worth $100,000+
OPM IG flagged $1.24B in improper payments over 5 years. The Annuity Error Cost Calculator shows what each FERS calculation mistake costs you. Verify before you retire.
- Federal Workers Owe $6.3 Billion in Taxes: 2026 TIGTA Agency Breakdown
TIGTA's May 2026 audit found 571,000 federal employees and retirees owe $6.3 billion in unpaid taxes. Agency-by-agency rankings, what IRS can levy, and Schedule F risk.
- FEHB IVF Coverage 2026: Every Plan, Every Limit (Updated May 2026)
BCBS Standard & GEHA High cover IVF up to $25,000. Full plan matrix, NALC exit impact, 2027 outlook, and the new DOL fertility rule explained for federal employees.
- Navy DRP 2026: What Civilian Employees Need to Know
Navy DRP 2026 status, eligibility, and the financial decision most civilians miss. Includes version history, benefits during admin leave, and the $46,800 severance gap.
- Senate Bill Would Strip Federal Pensions for Sex Crimes (S. 4447)
Sen. Ernst and Sen. Gillibrand introduced S. 4447 on April 30, 2026 to close the Hiss Act gap. Current law forfeits pensions only for treason and espionage, not sex offenses. The Stanley Weber case ($98K/yr until 2021) and Eric Swalwell context.
- OPM's Forced Distribution Rule: 740K Career Employees Lose Top Ratings
OPM proposed rule FR 2026-03619 (Feb 24, 2026) caps top ratings, kills Level 2, removes union grievance rights, and adds a supervisor critical element. 65% of GS now rate Level 4-5; under a 30% cap roughly 740,000 lose their top rating.
- Trump Accounts: $1,000 Per Child for Feds (Born 2025-2028)
Trump Accounts (IRC Section 530A) give every U.S. child born 2025-2028 a $1,000 federal seed deposit. Contributions open July 4, 2026. Worth claiming for fed families, but a 529 still beats it for college costs. Form 4547 required.
- 2027 Federal Pay Raise: The Math, the History, and the Most Likely Outcome
White House proposes 0%. FAIR Act asks 4.1%. FEPCA formula says ~2.9%. Here's how the 2027 raise actually gets set, the 18-year pattern, and the projection FedTools is using.
- DC Locality Pay 2026: 33.94% Above Base, Still Behind COL
DC locality (DCB) is 33.94% in 2026 across 55 counties in 5 states. But DC cost of living runs 39-43% above national average. The pay cap traps GS-15 Step 6+. Telework locality risk explained.
- Federal Hiring 'Loyalty Question': What 33,000 Postings Now Require
Since May 2025, federal job postings GS-5 and up include 4 essay questions, including one asking how you'd advance Trump's executive orders. OPM says optional; agencies marked it required. AFGE sues. Rutan v. RPI controls.
- HHS Hires 12K After Cutting 20K: The Net Math Doesn't Add Up
Kennedy says HHS will hire 12,000 after cutting 20,000 in 2025. Headcount may exceed pre-cut levels. But 10,109 doctoral scientists left, accommodation backlog hits 9,000, and the 12K plan is aligned to MAHA, not public-health response.
- OPM Pay Scale 2026: Official Federal Salary Tables (Every Grade and Locality)
OPM's 2026 federal salary tables — every GS grade (1-15), every step (1-10), every locality (58 areas), plus SES, Executive Schedule, LEO, and the $197,200 pay cap. OPM-verified.
- OPM April 28 Memo: Why Schedule C and G Skip Performance Reviews Now
OPM Director Kupor exempted Schedule C and G political appointees from formal performance appraisals on April 28, 2026. The 2010 bonus freeze still applies. What the exemption means if you report to one of them, and why this could be the template for Schedule Policy/Career.
- CDC Cuts 2026: 4,300 Jobs Lost, $11.4B Clawed Back
The CDC has lost roughly 4,300 employees and $11.4B in state grants since 2025. Cost: $537M in expert capacity. RIF rights, MSPB risk, and what 10K remaining staff need to know.
- DOGE Used ChatGPT to Kill $100M in NEH Grants: Court Says Unconstitutional
May 7 ruling: DOGE flagged 1,400+ NEH grants for cancellation using ChatGPT, no DEI definition, no human review. Judge says ultra vires + 1A + ICA. What 63 surviving NEH staff and grant officers governmentwide need to know.