Federal Employment Lawyer for Texas
Protecting Federal Careers Across the Lone Star State
Serious problems at a federal job can put your career and future at risk. If you work for a federal agency in Texas, your employment is governed by complex federal rules and forums rather than ordinary state employment law.
At The Law Firm of John P. Mahoney, Esq., Attorneys at Law, PLLC, we focus on those federal systems. From our Washington, D.C. office, we represent federal employees across the country and abroad in matters involving discipline, discrimination, retaliation for protected whistleblowing, clearance issues, and other prohibited personnel practices.
Our firm is led by John P. Mahoney, a former federal Administrative Judge who has spent his career in federal employment law. Our firm has received an AV Preeminent rating for legal ability and ethics, and our attorneys include former federal employees and agency executives. We bring that experience to federal employees working in Texas who need strategic guidance.
Call us at (202) 350-3881 or reach out online to discuss your case. With over 30 years of experience, we can review the agency’s action, the applicable process, and your options at the current stage.
Federal Employment Issues We Handle in Texas
If you’re facing a workplace dispute, the applicable federal procedure will depend on the action, allegations, and status of your case. We represent employees in administrative, disciplinary, discrimination, performance, investigation, and clearance matters.
We commonly advise Texas-based federal employees in matters such as:
- Discrimination, harassment, and hostile work environment claims within federal agencies, including issues based on race, sex, age, disability, or prior EEO activity
- EEO processes, such as informal complaints, formal filings, investigations, hearings, and Office of Federal Operations appeals
- Whistleblower retaliation, Office of Special Counsel complaints, and other prohibited personnel practices
- Security clearance concerns, responses, and appeals for civilian personnel
- Proposed suspensions, demotions, removals, and Merit Systems Protection Board appeals
- Performance improvement plans and unacceptable performance actions
- Investigations by agency internal affairs, inspectors general, Congress, or other oversight offices
- Retirement claims based on disability
Your dispute may proceed through an agency process, an administrative review forum, or more than one channel. Before recommending a strategy, we assess the facts, governing procedure, available evidence, your career goals, and your tolerance for risk.
Navigating the Federal Power Centers of Texas
You may work in a large command, field office, medical facility, regulatory office, or another federal workplace in Texas. Wherever you work, a proposed suspension, demotion, removal, performance action, investigation, or clearance notice should identify a response process and deadline that requires careful review.
We determine which federal procedure governs your case and what your response must address. This work can include reviewing the agency’s evidence, preparing written submissions, presenting relevant records, and advocating for you through the appropriate administrative process.
Why Federal Employees in Texas Choose Us
Our attorneys have served in government as federal employees, supervisors, and agency leaders. That background informs how we analyze agency evidence, anticipate the concerns of deciding officials, and prepare clients to navigate internal procedures.
As The Law Firm of John P. Mahoney, Esq., Attorneys at Law, PLLC, an AV Preeminent Top Rated law firm, our work has been recognized for strong legal analysis and high ethical standards. Our attorneys have obtained significant resolutions for federal employees in high-stakes cases, including multimillion-dollar court, Merit Systems Protection Board, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission matters. Every case is different, so we assess its specific facts, evidence, procedures, and risks.
John P. Mahoney has been named in The Wall Street Journal as a Top Rated Labor and Employment Lawyer, recognized as Federal Employment Lawyer of the Year, and honored as a Best Lawyer in America. Our attorneys have also obtained precedent-setting decisions before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and settled thousands of federal employment law cases.
Our Practice Areas
- Administrative Law Judge Hearings
- Agency or Congressional Conduct Investigations
- Conduct Investigation
- Disciplinary Actions
- EEO Complaints
- Employment Law
- Federal Disability Retirement Benefits
- Federal Employment Law
- Inspector General Complaints
- MSPB Appeals
- OFO Appeals
- OSC Complaints
- Performance Cases
- Performance Improvement Plans
- Security Clearance Law Appeals
- Sexual Harassment
- Title 38
- Whistleblower Cases
- Workplace Harassment
Budget Realignment & Agency Reshuffling in Texas
Changes to an agency’s budget or organizational structure can affect assignments, staffing, performance expectations, and proposed personnel actions. If a change affects your position, the governing notice and your employment status will help determine whether you have a response or review process.
Review the stated reason, effective date, procedural rights, and deadline before responding. Those details often determine the options available to you.
Federal Changes Affecting Texas Installations
Changes in agency leadership, mission, or policy can lead to reassignments, reductions in force, new performance expectations, or disciplinary proposals. The appropriate legal response depends on the action taken, your status, the governing notice, and the administrative procedure available for review.
A broad agency change doesn’t eliminate the need to examine how a specific action affects you. Your notice and procedural history provide the starting point for that review.
Deadlines for EEO Counseling & MSPB Appeals
Some federal employment procedures have short filing periods. If you allege discrimination, you generally must contact an agency Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor within 45 days of the discriminatory matter. Counseling ordinarily concludes within 30 days after that contact unless the counseling period is extended.
In most Merit Systems Protection Board cases, you must file an appeal within 30 calendar days after the action’s effective date or your receipt of the agency decision, whichever is later. A petition asking the Board to review an initial decision generally must be filed within 35 days after the decision is issued. Adverse actions under 38 U.S.C. § 714 can carry a substantially shorter appeal period, so follow the deadline stated in your governing notice.
These periods don’t apply to every federal workplace dispute. Reviewing your notice, effective date, allegations, and procedural history identifies which deadline controls.
Federal Employees Retirement System Disability Retirement
This benefit is available to qualifying employees whose medical condition prevents useful and efficient service in their position. To be eligible, you need at least 18 months of creditable federal civilian service, and your disabling condition must be expected to last at least one year.
Your employing agency must certify that it can’t accommodate the medical condition or reassign you to a vacant position at the same grade or pay within the same commuting area. You must also apply for Social Security disability benefits, although you don’t need approval for those benefits before the Office of Personnel Management considers your retirement application.
If you have separated from federal service, your application must reach the Office of Personnel Management within one year after separation. Our legal team has guided thousands of federal employees through the Federal Employees Retirement System disability retirement process, including the preparation and review of application materials.
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"I found him a wise and compassionate advisor."
Mr Mahoney is an incredibly intelligent attorney with a very easy counselor manner. I found that the money I spent for my initial appointment with Mr Mahoney was well spent I will continue to use his council as I found him a wise and compassionate advisor. You would be well taken care of should you use his service.- Michael S. -
"It means the world to know my experience is being fought for so powerfully."
Dear Attorney Lolotai,
I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for the powerful motion you submitted to amend and reinstate the dismissed claims in my case. Your work was not only thorough and well-argued it is deeply validating.
Reading the motion, I felt like you truly captured the full scope of what I endured. The way you incorporated the patterns of hostility, the layered racial and gender-based discrimination, and the continued retaliation was incredibly strategic and affirming. Your attention to detail, legal framing, and use of precedent made it clear that you believe in the strength of my case and are committed to advocating for the truth to be seen.
Thank you for standing with me and for giving voice to the reality I’ve been carrying for so long. It means the world to know my experience is being fought for so powerfully.
- Rikyah Noel Brown
How We Help Texas Federal Employees
National rules generally control federal employment matters, regardless of the state where you work. From our Washington, D.C.-based practice, we assist federal employees assigned to agencies and installations throughout Texas. Because many hearings, conferences, and negotiations use written submissions, telephone conferences, or video platforms, we can work closely with you wherever you’re located.
When you contact our firm, we typically begin by reviewing your key documents and deadlines. Relevant materials may include:
- A proposed notice of discipline
- A performance improvement plan
- A Statement of Reasons in a clearance case
- An EEO complaint or decision
- A letter of counseling
We then assess where your case stands, which timelines apply, and which options remain available.
If you receive a serious notice from your agency in Texas, consider these immediate steps:
- Read the document carefully and note all stated deadlines.
- Don’t respond impulsively in writing or in meetings without considering the implications.
- Gather relevant emails, performance records, and prior appraisals and store them securely.
- Avoid deleting potential evidence or discussing details widely in the workplace.
- Contact a federal employment lawyer to review the notice and help you plan a response.
We schedule consultations by phone or through our contact form and reply to inquiries within 24 hours or less. During the initial review, we examine your notice, supporting records, procedural posture, and stated deadline so the discussion can focus on your available options.
Acting quickly and carefully can preserve options that may be lost if you wait until a deadline has passed or make statements that are difficult to correct later.
For decades, we have helped thousands of federal employees like you handle the most complex legal matters, so they can assert their rights, and protect and enhance their federal careers. We are grateful for your public service, and we are dedicated to resolving the employment difficulties you face with the federal government. We offer the effective legal experience you need.
Union Grievances & Federal Labor Relations Procedures
We represent unions and employee associations in federal workplace disputes involving agency procedures and administrative review systems. These matters can include:
- Negotiated grievances
- Discrimination allegations
- Retaliation after protected disclosures
- Other disputes arising under collective bargaining procedures
The Federal Labor Relations Authority decides disputes involving unfair labor practices, negotiability, representation petitions, and exceptions to grievance arbitration awards. A negotiated grievance procedure is generally the exclusive administrative process for a grievance covered by the collective bargaining agreement, subject to the agreement’s terms and applicable law.
When a negotiated grievance remains unresolved, the union or agency may invoke binding arbitration if the agreement permits it. Because the same issue generally can’t proceed through both a negotiated grievance procedure and an unfair labor practice charge, the allegations, prior filings, and agreement should be reviewed before choosing a forum.
Discuss Your Texas Federal Employment Matter
When you contact The Law Firm of John P. Mahoney, Esq., Attorneys at Law, PLLC, we review your federal employment issue, relevant documents, and procedural timing. Consultations are available by phone or through our contact form, and we respond promptly to inquiries.
Our attorneys represent Texas federal employees in complex workplace disputes and administrative proceedings. We evaluate the governing process while accounting for your evidence, career goals, and deadlines.
Call (202) 350-3881 or reach out online to schedule a consultation about your federal employment matter.