Casework Navigator: Sharing community resource lists is now officially House-sanctioned
And your regular roundup of agency news
Hi caseworkers,
One of the most frustrating open secrets of casework is that some offices obey the letter of the Ethics and Communication Standards rules on what they are and are not allowed to communicate to constituents — and others use their best judgment to determine what their constituents need and how they can best provide it. This is especially a point of tension in moments of crisis — I know I heard this from many of you in our shutdown water cooler sessions.
This is why it is so exciting to see the House take action to modernize its communication standards guidance to now allow offices to share Community Resource Lists for constituent services. This move acknowledges what most caseworkers know: that in an era of attenuated social services and confusing government programs, a critical function Congressional offices play is serving as a clearinghouse for information, helping constituents discover and best use the local services and resources that can help cover gaps and emergencies.
Senate — we hope this might be an opportunity to stir some internal conversations around leveling the playing field between the chambers. Nothing like a bit of tactical FOMO to drive change!
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
Managing Director
POPVOX Foundation
Casework News
Reps. Lieu [D, CA], Jacobs [D, CA], and Espaillat [D, NY] introduced the FAIR Act, which would require ICE and CBP detention centers to provide privacy release forms to detainees upon request and notify Congressional offices within seven days of a detainee’s request for assistance.
Rep. Luna [R-FL] backed President Trump’s asylum freeze, citing her office’s casework caseload: “A majority of the cases we take as Congressional offices, constituent services are immigration related. We have people wanting to come here legally, but they can’t even get through the process.”
Rep. Escobar [D, TX] requested a USPS Inspector General investigation into El Paso service problems after months of unanswered constituent complaints about delayed mail and vehicles without AC.
Agency News
VA
House and Senate Appropriations committees encouraged VA to expand use of AI for suicide prevention in their FY26 funding bill reports, highlighting tools like REACH VET that scan health records to identify veterans at highest risk.
An IT glitch from the Chapter 35 benefits system conversion delayed payments for up to 75,000 students (dependents and survivors of disabled/deceased veterans). VA issued a statement that it expects resolution by late November or early December.
Health Care
FEHB Open Season runs through December 8. Federal employees face a 12.3% average premium increase — here’s a checklist to walk constituents through their options.
Federal retirees delaying Medicare Part B face a permanent 10% penalty per year delayed, but the fixed penalty flattens out over a 20-25 year retirement, making the long-term financial impact more modest than initially appears.
Federal employees over 65 can delay Medicare Part B without penalty while covered by FEHB, with an 8-month Special Enrollment Period after employment ends.
Medicare Part B premiums jump 10% to $202.90/month in 2026 — eating up most of the 2.8% Social Security COLA.
CMS announced negotiated price reductions for 15 Medicare drugs — including Ozempic, Wegovy, and several cancer medications — saving an estimated $12 billion compared to 2024 spending, following the second round of negotiations established as part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
Immigration
USCIS announced it will pause processing for immigration applications from Afghanistan indefinitely after an Afghan man, who entered the US in 2021, shot two National Guard troops near the White House. One of the National Guard members died of her injuries and the other remains in critical condition.
An internal USCIS memo, dated November 21, ordered a comprehensive review of all 233,000 refugees admitted under Biden (2021-2025), with authority to terminate refugee status without appeal if criteria aren’t met.
DHS terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 4,000 immigrants from Myanmar, adding to the hundreds of thousands whose deportation protections have ended since January 2025.
The DOJ has fired over 100 immigration judges since January, exacerbating the court’s backlog of over 3.4 million cases, including those waiting reassignment.
The House Oversight Committee Minority launched a federal intake form to track misconduct allegations against ICE, CBP, or other federal immigration enforcement agents.
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to release more than 600 immigrants arrested without warrants during Chicago’s “Operation Midway Blitz,” citing violations of a 2022 settlement.
New State Department guidance directs visa officers to consider chronic health conditions including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and mental health conditions as potential grounds for denial under “public charge” rules.
USAFacts data shows citizenship typically takes 3-6 years from green card, but initial green card waits vary wildly by country — some applicants wait 24+ years.
Shutdown Impacts
CBO warns agencies won’t return to pre-shutdown operations until 2026 due to invoice backlogs for contracts.
IRS employees warn that millions in contractor spending may be wasted as incomplete projects miss deadlines post-shutdown.
DHS announced $10,000 bonuses for TSA officers with “exemplary service” during the shutdown, though specific eligibility criteria remain unclear. The FAA also announced $10,000 bonuses, specifying eligibility was dependent on perfect attendance during the shutdown.
The shutdown deal rescinds approximately 4,200 RIF notices and resumes severance payments frozen during the shutdown.
SSA abandoned a regulatory overhaul that included updating occupational data from 1991 used in disability determinations — leaving no timeline for modernization despite spending hundreds of millions over a decade on the bipartisan priority.
Miscellaneous
CFPB will furlough most staff December 31 and transfer litigation to DOJ after the Trump administration stopped Federal Reserve funding, despite a court injunction prohibiting mass layoffs. Reminder, as former CFPB CTO Erie Meyer flagged in our webinar on consumer protection casework, most complaints are still handled through an automated system, so constituents can still submit complaints for the time being.
OPM’s retirement backlog hit 34,587 claims in October (highest since COVID) after receiving an additional 20,344 deferred resignation claims. Average retirement processing time now stands at 79 days.
Electricity shutoffs are surging nationwide as power costs have risen 11% on average since January 2025, with disconnections increasingly affecting middle class households unable to pay utility bills.
DOT withdrew a Biden-era proposal requiring airlines to compensate passengers $200-$775 for 3+ hour carrier-caused delays.
OpenAI announced it will provide US service members within 12 months of separation or retirement with one free year of ChatGPT Plus.
Apple’s Digital ID lets users create IDs from US passports for TSA checkpoints at 250+ airports — check state availability here.
Dave Guarino demonstrated how ChatGPT’s Agent Mode can guide users through Medicaid renewals, an early example of how AI tools could be adapted for public benefits navigation.
The nonpartisan Federation of American Scientists released a blueprint for IRS modernization, including year-round filing, pre-populated returns, and expanded customer service support.
OPM reassured federal managers they face “extremely limited” personal liability for performance actions like poor ratings or firings — agencies, not supervisors, are held responsible for challenges — part of broader efforts to encourage more aggressive performance management.
Such great news on the sharing local resources!