Defense
The Pentagon gave $350 million in contracts to a firm closely tied to a senior Defense Department official
The contracts raise questions about whether personal and professional ties to senior defense officials gave the firm an advantage in securing Pentagon business.
Workforce
HHS scraps disability accommodations over missing paperwork. Employees say they have receipts
A union leader for CDC headquarters employees said the Health and Human Services Department closing out these accommodation requests was “a deliberate choice to clear the backlog."
Exclusive
Oversight
Watchdog to examine summertime hack of DHS information network, other incidents
The Government Accountability Office is expected to flag that the Homeland Security Department delayed in notifying Congress of the incidents, according to a person familiar with the review.
Workforce
Bureau of Prisons re-terminates union contracts despite court order
Attorneys for the Trump administration said there is nothing in U.S. District Judge Vernon Oliver’s preliminary injunction preventing BOP from canceling its collective bargaining agreements a second time.
Sponsor Content
Creating Decision Dominance with Agentic AI Planning & Simulations
Discover how agentic AI accelerates mission planning while keeping commanders in control of critical decisions.
Tech
VA rolls out CLEAR login option and in-person identity verification pilot
The new offering will allow participating veterans to use facial recognition to access their VA.gov accounts.
Workforce
Some former federal employees are still struggling to find the right fit
Workforce officials and lawmakers say some of the employees pushed out of government last year are still struggling to find work that matches their skills.
Pay & Benefits
Don’t let 5% become your TSP retirement strategy
Getting the full agency match is a good baseline, but if retirement is around the corner there’s more to consider before deciding what to do with the rest of your paycheck.
Sponsor Content
Policy says move faster. So why are ATO timelines still stalling mission software?
Faster software authorization could transform how quickly defense capabilities reach the field. See what’s changing.
Workforce
Union demands federal prison leaders be held in contempt after agency ‘openly defies’ court order
The U.S. Bureau of Prisons director reportedly said in a meeting shortly before an injunction required him to restore the agency’s union contracts, “I don’t take directives from the court. I take my orders from the president.”
FEATURED INSIGHTS
Workforce
Social Security ends flexible work schedules, teeing up clash with union
The agency’s top HR official says these changes are necessary to “deliver the service the public expects.” A union argues SSA violated its labor contract making this decision on its own.
Workforce
Using holiday lights to inform hurricane recovery? Award honors ‘seemingly odd’ federally funded research that brings about groundbreaking discoveries
The Trump administration has sought to upend federal support for scientific research, including through budget cuts and granting political appointees more control over the grantmaking process.
Management
What happens when the State Department loses its institutional memory?
COMMENTARY | With dozens of ambassadorial posts still vacant, the staffing of U.S. embassies is raising questions about the role of career diplomats and the experience needed to carry out American policy overseas.
TSP TICKER
FUND
G
F
C
S
I
OCT 08 CLOSE
$20.2801
$20.4040
$125.3213
$112.8860
$63.8603
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0.0030
0.0682
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1.51
0.72
-1.17
FUND
L 2070
L 2060
L 2050
L 2040
L 2030
L INCOME
OCT 08 CLOSE
$14.5235
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-0.0852
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-0.2144
-0.3005
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0.47
0.46
0.43
0.40
0.33
0.24
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CLOSE
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MONTH
MONTH
G
$20.2801
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F
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0.0682
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$14.5235
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0.47
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$24.5093
-0.1440
0.46
L 2050
$46.5807
-0.2144
0.43
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$75.2615
-0.3005
0.40
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0.33
L INCOME
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0.24
Workforce
Bureau of Prisons is the latest agency ordered to reinstate union rights
As of Tuesday, at least one correctional facility has refused to recognize its union local, in apparent contravention of a preliminary injunction issued last week.
Tech
GSA still has problems with location data for federal properties, watchdog finds
The agency has agreed to five recommendations aimed at improving the accuracy and management of the information.
Tech
FBI removes Accenture contractor after missed security patch led to breach
The bureau’s cyber chief blamed a contractor’s failure to apply an available fix for an intrusion that may have exposed sensitive employee information.
Workforce
TSA took away its officers’ chairs. The union isn’t sitting quietly
The Trump administration has taken several actions to weaken Transportation Security Administration employees’ collective bargaining rights.
Workforce
Appeals court seemingly OKs VA’s contested union contract expiration
A three-judge panel found that a judge’s ruling in August forcing the VA to maintain its CBAs with AFGE improperly delved into questions of compliance with particular contract provisions.
Oversight
Cut first, measure later: Watchdogs find problems across foreign affairs agency reorganizations
Among the findings, the inspector general for the State Department reported that the government is spending $3.2 million biweekly on administrative leave for employees who received reduction in force notices last year.
Tech
US spy chief tapped as White House AI czar
A new task force led by Jay Clayton, the director of national intelligence, will have 120 days to analyze and report on AI’s risks and opportunities, amid growing global calls for AI safety measures.
Tech
Transportation works to ease fears about its new AI air traffic control tool
Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who has expressed skepticism about Transportation’s rollout of an AI-powered tool at D.C.-area airports, said he had “a good conversation” with FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford about the new capability that helped to alleviate some of his worries.
Updated
Management
State Department appeals board, now with limited authority, gains new members
The Trump administration recently limited the board’s authority to challenge employee removals and other adverse personnel actions, asserting that the secretary of state has final say on these decisions.
Oversight
Housing finance agency chief moves to slash watchdog’s budget, leading Democrats to demand his resignation
The Federal Housing Finance Agency inspector general said that budget cuts would force the office to reduce its staffing by up to 80% and effectively stop criminal investigations.
Pay & Benefits
Federal employees’ health insurance premiums to rise by double digits for third straight year
Some insurance carriers have undergone wide swings in cost, as at least one plan’s premiums will more than double next year.
Tech
GSA memo to set AI-specific acquisition rules
The language includes changes some industry groups have requested through a public comment period and will go into effect Oct. 19.
