In times of rapidly changing federal policies, shifting funding priorities, and increased public anxiety, communicators are often expected to provide clarity before the facts are even known. This session explores what it means to lead through uncertainty, and how vulnerability, empathy and transparency can become powerful tools of leadership.Many cities have faced a series of complex federal impacts over the last year, including sudden shifts in federal funding and changing federal immigration enforcement actions. These changes challenged Long Beach leadership to communicate openly with employees while information was still unfolding, balancing honesty (“we don’t have all the details yet”) with reassurance (“we are monitoring closely and will update you as soon as we know more”).Presenters will share how they built trust and maintained stability through an honest communications model that included:1) Assembling a cross-departmental team to track and interpret federal impacts in real time.2) Hosting live, virtual employee town halls to give employees direct access to Leadership and to have employee questions answered directly.3) Developing comprehensive internal FAQs4) Sending updates from the City Manager to address evolving concerns with empathy and clarity.5) Providing practical guidance materials and training with the understanding that the situation continues to evolve.6) Creating feedback loops where staff could submit questions and see their concerns reflected in leadership communications.Attendees will walk away with frameworks for communicating internally in uncertain times, empowering them to lead with courage and humanity even when the answers are still developing.