Sunday Edition - 19 October 2025

Things never slow down these days, and there are a couple important items to flag for Next Interior Memos readers. Since Sundays are reading days for many people, I hope this can fit into your routine rather than being a nuisance.

First, news broke Thursday night that the Department of the Interior is planning to begin Reductions In Force (RIFs, =layoffs) on Monday, despite the fact that a federal court has already issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that stayed layoffs of competitive areas with union-represented staff, at this time. Such a move by Interior would not be surprising, of course. Part of this administration's M.O. is to simply do illegal things they want to do, knowing they are illegal but also knowing it will take untold months for a court to resolve. By the time that happens, the damage—to people, to institutions—will have been done.

Per the Bloomberg story, the court “granted the union‘s request for an urgent hearing on Friday, in addition to moving up the deadline for the government to disclose its layoff plans to 11 a.m. Pacific time.” Two results from that hearing on Friday include:

1. Interior said they would obey the TRO, which is good, though it's sad we have to celebrate basic things like the government following court orders, but that's where we are.
2. The judge expanded the scope of the stay to include additional unions whose collective bargaining agreements were terminated pursuant to EO 14251 but whose final status is undetermined at this time. (A district court had issued a temporary injunction on that EO, but the Ninth Circuit stayed that injunction in August...it's all up in the air.)

As the judge put it, “During this time, these agencies should not be doing RIFs of the protected folks that we’re talking about.” 

It's important to note that it's not just union employees who are protected by the current TRO: it applies to anyone who is in a “competitive area” (group of positions with similar duties / functions) that includes union employees. It's not clear to me if anyone outside of Interior yet knows who all will be covered; if you do, please drop me a line. 

If you want to get more detailed analysis from a former solicitor at Interior, be sure to check out these (great) posts on LinkedIn from Tony Irish: one, two, three. Among other details, he notes that the distinction between “competitive areas” and “programs, projects, and activities” is not yet clarified, and so we don't know what that means for RIFs.

Barring really significant developments, we will plan on tracking RIF news between now and next Thursday, and update with the next weekly digest.

Second, while I had seen passing reference to the flooding and destruction in Western Alaska mid-week from Typhoon Halong, the extent and intensity of the damage was not clear. It is very bad:

#alaskanative | Brad Angasan

Last night, the village of Kipnuk faced evacuation to Anchorage due to the devastating impact of Typhoon Halong. Similarly, the village of Kwigillingok experienced tragic loss during the flood. These events highlight the profound environmental challenges faced by Alaska Native communities in coastal villages due to an evolving climate. Despite being small dots on the map, these villages play a significant role in safeguarding Alaska’s unique multitude of traditional heritage and traditions. #AlaskaNative

LinkedInBrad Angasan

Next Interior Fellow Vanessa Raymond, who is in Alaska, shared this poster of a key way to mobilize support. With federal agencies like FEMA and Interior being gutted and hampered at every turn by this administration - and not nearly as well resourced as they really need to be regardless - there’s not enough support for the scale of the disaster. Please take a moment to give a bit to support people - and pets - impacted.

Here’s hoping for all the best for you, your families and friends, the public servants of Interior and the people of Alaska whom we may or may not know, in this coming week. Have compassion for all and help where you can!