Workers’ Compensation Fraud Case United States v. Sandra “Sandy” Cannon Throneburg Issue Whether Sandra “Sandy” Cannon Throneburg, a former USPS rural carrier, violated federal law and FECA requirements by concealing employment while receiving federal workers’ compensation benefits. Rule - Under 18 U.S.C. § 1001, it is a federal offense to knowingly and [...]

Postal Worker Suicide and Death Benefits In K.P. and U.S. Postal Service, No. 23-0936 (ECAB 05/12/25), the widow of a postal worker claimed death benefits under FECA, alleging her husband’s suicide was caused by intractable pain from his work-related bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The worker, age 48, had stopped working after surgery [...]

What You Need to Know About the Back the Blue Act of 2025 In July 2025, a new piece of bipartisan legislation hit the floor of Congress: the Back the Blue Act. Introduced by U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jared Golden (D-ME), the bill seeks to significantly bolster protections for federal [...]

FederalSpending Training and FECA ExpansionBillsThe U.S. House is considering two new legislative proposals. The first, HR-4320, would require federal employees at the GS-11 level and above to complete annual training on federal spending laws. This includes the Purpose Statute, the Antideficiency Act, and the Impoundment Control Act, as well as specific instructions from [...]

Summary and Commentary: House Panel Revisits FECA-Related Issues A U.S. House Education and Workforce subcommittee recently held a hearing on potential reforms to the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA), which provides wage replacement and medical benefits to federal employees injured on the job. The hearing explored several proposed changes to improve program [...]

How Do I Appeal an OWCP Decision? Appealing OWCP Denials with Expert Legal Help from Carlos Zaldivar at Zaldivar Law If your federal workers’ compensation claim has been denied or only partially approved by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), don’t give up. You have legal rights—and several options—for appealing an [...]

Is There a Federal Workers’ Compensation Law? What You Need to Know If you’ve been injured on the job and work for the federal government, you may be wondering: “Is there a federal workers’ compensation law?” The answer is yes—and understanding how it works is essential to protecting your rights and securing [...]

How Long Can I Be on OWCP? Understanding Your Federal Workers’ Compensation Benefits If you’re a federal employee injured on the job, you may be wondering, "How long can I receive benefits under the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)?" The answer depends on several factors, including the severity of your injury, [...]

Helping Injured Postal Workers Secure the Compensation They Deserve At Zaldivar Law, we understand the challenges injured postal workers face when navigating the complex claims process under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). Attorney Carlos Zaldivar is committed to helping federal employees, particularly postal workers, secure the compensation and medical treatment they [...]

Is the new Trump administration expected to change the OWCP injury claims process for federal workers? As of the information available up to February 3, 2025, there have been no explicit reports or announcements indicating that the Trump administration has made or plans to make specific changes to the Office of Workers' [...]