We are just barely into 2018, and we already know that this will be a year of some major world-altering changes. For the first time since 1959, there will no longer be a Castro in charge of Cuba when Raúl retires as its President. On the other side of the world, Emperor Akihito of Japan will abdicate this year, the first abdication from the Chrysanthemum Throne in over 200 years. And, here in the good old United States, in our dearly-beloved civil service, … who really knows what will happen? Maybe we’ll get one, two, or three new Board members at the Merit Systems Protection Board. Maybe we won’t get any. Maybe our leadership in the world of civil service law will finally take the bull by the whatever and give us some needed systemic improvements. Or, maybe Congress will just keep chasing this-nit and that-shadow of an issue that crosses its path, much like a dog responds when it thinks it sees a SQUIRREL! The way that time works, we have lots of questions regarding what will happen in 2018, but will have no real answers about what actually did happen until this time next year. So stick with us here at FELTG. Come this time next year, we’ll be able to identify all the important abdications for you, perhaps even one or two that you might not have expected at all.
