Newsletter: Casework Feels Hard Because It *Is* Hard

Written By Anne Meeker

I was absolutely honored to join the Senate Employee Assistance Program this week to chat with Senate caseworkers about the current state of casework, how casework is changing, and the “wish list” for resources to make casework easier and more sustainable for the long haul. Thanks so much to everyone who joined for the thoughtful discussion. The TL;DR for me? Casework genuinely is harder than ever before — but it’s also part of an emerging moment in which casework and caseworkers are more recognized and respected as subject-matter experts than ever before, too. So hang in there, be proud of your work, and let me know how we can be helpful.

Today is a monster email with a roundup of updates on agency news — and I am delighted to announce our next webinar series on understanding and navigating immigration casework, hosted in partnership with the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (AILA), and a special guest cohost, Meghan Vogel, formerly of Senator Sherrod Brown’s office [D, OH].

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

New Webinars: Navigating Immigration Casework

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.

Learn More / Register

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.

Learn More / Register

Casework News

  • My wonderful colleague Danielle Stewart gave testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch highlighting our recommendation on creating a Casework Liaison Office that would centralize and enhance services for casework teams on the House side.

  • A quick reminder that it’s appropriations season — might be a good time to talk with your legislative team about advancing casework priorities! We have an intro to approps webinar here.

  • The Modernization Staff Association is hosting a roundtable for junior district staff on April 30, 2-3 PM ET. RSVP here.

  • Professional development alert for House folks: the House Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds is launching an initiative to train one staff member per office as an Office Whistleblower Liaison, responsible for coordinating responsiveness to whistleblowers. We love the Whistleblower Ombuds team, and this would be a great opportunity for caseworkers to step up into an office-wide leadership role.

  • We would like to add some additional context to our previous note on reporting around outgoing Senate offices not transferring their casework to their successors: We heard through the grapevine that part of the challenge of transferring cases on the Senate side is that GSA often demands the return of all tech issued to Senate offices immediately after the election is called — so what looks like a political decision is, in fact, just logistics. This is something I’m super interested in — if you’ve been through an office transition recently and want to share your experience, I’m all ears!

Agency News

SSA

  • SSA technical staff received a memo on Monday requiring them to cease all written responses to Congressional inquiries and inquiries from SSA advocates.

  • While the SSA has walked back reporting that it would shift all official public communication to X, this article covering the story still has great information about SSA personnel changes.

  • SSA issues a warning about a new scam email asking people to “download their SSA statement.” May be helpful to amplify as a PSA!

  • SSA’s website keeps crashing.

  • SSA backed off plans to reduce available services via telephone after public outcry. The agency said that new enhanced capabilities will allow staff in phone service centers to perform anti-fraud checks that make phone service safer.

  • SSA outlines a plan for stricter ID-proofing options that will partner with the Postal Service to allow people to verify their identity in person at 19,000 post offices across the country (as compared to 1,230 SSA field offices).

  • Speaking of those field offices, SSA’s internal draft service delivery plans call for consolidating field offices and reducing staff, consolidating phone service, and developing digital service indexes to clarify what services may be offered in person, online, and over the phone. Former SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley notes that some of the service delivery changes were in progress under his tenure.

  • The “40%” statistic on SSA telephone fraud seems to be misreported: the correct statistic is that 40% of SSA direct deposit fraud occurs via phone calls.

  • The Huffington Post reports on SSA’s internal reasoning behind canceling Maine HHS contracts (and later reinstating them).

  • A new “war room” led by Democratic senators asks SSA for more information about reports from constituents of SSI benefits being delayed.

  • The Niskanen Center issues recommendations to modernize SSA’s records management systems.

Immigration

  • The Department of Homeland Security revoked legal status for 900,000 migrants who were paroled into the US via the CPB One app. Parolees are encouraged to self-deport, and report their exit through the app.

  • The Trump Administration has ended TPS for migrants from Cameroon and Afghanistan.

  • The Trump Administration also announced that migrants without legal status (or whose legal status has been revoked) would be placed in the Social Security Death Master File, essentially ending their ability to utilize financial services like bank accounts and credit cards.

  • USCIS announced that it would begin screening immigrants’ social media accounts for antisemitism as grounds for denying applications.

  • Ukrainian immigrants in the US under the U4U program received erroneous notices ordering them to leave the country.

  • The Administration’s anticipated travel ban has been “indefinitely delayed.”

  • NYT has a good graphic explaining areas where the Trump Administration has expanded or changed who is being targeted for immigration enforcement action.

  • AILA has a great policy brief explaining in depth student visas and avenues through which they can be revoked, and due process options.

  • Many outlets are tracking where student visas have been revoked.

  • Immigration attorneys are raising concerns after a lawyer representing an American pro-Palestinian activist was asked to give up his phone when passing through customs at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

  • At least one ICE office is no longer taking scheduled check-ins, raising concerns among asylum seekers required to attend regular appointments.

  • USCIS warns of possible delays for applications for cases with documents with conflicting sex ID.

Agency staff cuts

  • The Supreme Court upheld a decision allowing the Trump Administration to fire members of the Merit Systems Protection Board and National Labor Relations Board, at least temporarily while the Court considers the case.

  • The HHS team that produces federal poverty guidelines was cut on April 1. These numbers are released annually, with the most recent guidelines published in January 2025.

  • The National Endowment for the Humanities notified many grant recipients earlier this month that their funding was being terminated to be redirected to agency priorities.

  • IRS begins a RIF process, beginning with a 75% staff cut to its Office of Civil Rights and Compliance. The Agency has been authorized to offer voluntary early retirement payouts as part of its staff reduction process, and has further plans to cut up to 50% of enforcement staff.

  • Several departments, including the VA, DOD, HUD, DHS, and SBA have reopened the “deferred resignation” offer for employees to separate from their agencies by September 30.

  • Meanwhile, the DOD’s hiring freeze is leading to chaos for employees with transfers on hold whose belongings have already been shipped overseas to their duty stations.

  • The Partnership for Public Service has a nice roundup of resources for federal employees.

Mixed reports on OPM shutting down its Congressional Liaison service

Sounds like some offices have 1) been locked out of the OPM casework portal, 2) received unofficial notification that the agency’s CS teams are no longer able to work cases, or 3) heard that nothing is changing. If you have any insight, let us know!

REAL ID is finally real??

It looks like REAL ID laws will finally come into effect on May 7! Air travelers will need a REAL ID compliant ID document to travel.

VA announces efforts to find new leadership for VBA and VHA

The VA has launched commissions to identify candidates to take on leadership of the VHA and VBA. Both positions require Senate confirmation.

VA to shutter home loan bailout program

The VA announced that on May 1, it will end the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase Program mortgage bailout program offering assistance to veterans facing foreclosure. Previously-purchased loans and mortgage holders will not be affected.

TAS flags a discrepancy in the “mailbox rule” for paper vs. electronic filing

The Taxpayer Advocate writes that the strict cutoff for electronic filings to be considered timely (8 PM on April 14) disproportionately harms taxpayers who submit online, vs. taxpayers who mail in their returns and are considered to have filed timely if their return is postmarked by April 15.

Handling tax fraud relief may get harder

NYMag reports on the experience of several constituents who have waited more than a year for resolution on their stolen tax refunds. Some good tips in here on setting up a PIN, and preparing for possible longer wait times.

Results of FEMA recommendations panel

A FEMA review task force led by Representative Chuck Edwards [R, NC] has released its recommendations for restructuring the agency’s disaster relief and recovery efforts, including creating a simplified disaster relief application process. The results come after the White House asked the task force to delay the release of their findings and recommendations.

Civilian disaster recovery effort demobilized

The Americorps National Civilian Community Service Corps, which assigns young adults to national projects including disaster relief efforts, was told that its personnel were placed on administrative leave until April 30.

More information for service members separated for COVID-19 vaccine reinstatement

The DOD has released additional information for the roughly 8,700 service members who were separated for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Returning service members will be eligible for full back pay, but will need to meet medical and fitness standards, and commit to reenlisting for at least four years (those eligible for retirement or who separated voluntarily may commit for two years). To calculate back pay and benefits, including eligible bonuses, personnel will need to provide pay stubs, tax returns, and other income for themselves and their spouses.

SBA launches investigations into staff for speaking to the media/former colleagues

Employees have received a memo noting that unauthorized communications may run afoul of the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, or other restrictions on disclosures.

Federal unions no longer able to collect dues through federal paychecks

The Trump Administration appears to have ended voluntary payroll dedication for union dues for unions targeted by a recent executive order ending collective bargaining for certain agencies for national security reasons.

Fascinating look at how information on benefits spreads on social media

The Economist has a fascinating look at how information on public benefits programs is more accessible via advice and explainers on social media, especially TikTok, and how the increased rate of uptake for benefits is scrambling budgets for British towns.

Anne Meeker
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Newsletter: What If Casework Worked Differently?