Updated
Oversight
HUD asked grantees to apply for soon-to-be-expired funding 3 separate times. Democrats want a watchdog review.
President Donald Trump recently replaced the acting head of the Housing and Urban Development Department’s inspector general office, which would look into the matter.
Management
Federal agencies threaten, discipline employees for criticizing or mocking Charlie Kirk
The Trump administration is “tracking…very closely” social media posts suggesting Kirk should not be mourned, some agencies say.
Workforce
House NDAA would exempt Defense civilians from union ban
Union officials said Friday that a discharge petition Is just two signatures shy of the 218 needed to force a floor vote on legislation to undo President Trump’s executive order barring collective bargaining at most federal agencies.
Management
Trump Education Department to divert grants from colleges serving students of color
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the department would withhold $350 million in minority-serving institution grants from 800 colleges and universities, saying the grants "discriminate by restricting eligibility to institutions that meet government-mandated racial quotas."
Management
State officials wrestle with federal data demands
Speakers during a recent webinar said federal access is “not unlimited,” and that certain safeguards are in place “for good reason.”
Oversight
Oversight of contract security guards at federal buildings is the focus of a House-passed bill
The legislation also would require the Federal Protective Service to overhaul the digital system for recording when such personnel are on duty. The Government Accountability Office has warned that the system is not properly functioning.
Tech
US needs an agency to call ‘balls and strikes’ on digital IDs, lawmaker says
Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., said Congress needs to create a federal body capable of auditing identity verification technologies to lay the groundwork for a broad embrace of digital IDs.
Pay & Benefits
What to know before setting your 2026 retirement date
Immediate vs. deferred retirement, the three-day rule, and why the last day of the month often makes the most sense.
Management
Democrats rally behind hardball strategy to upcoming shutdown fight
House and Senate Democratic leaders say they are united in making policy demands as part of upcoming spending talks.
Exclusive
Management
ODNI expected to shrink counterintelligence, counterterror centers
The steps are the latest in a series of moves that several current and former officials see as enabling broad vulnerability to foreign espionage attempts.
Workforce
Feds fired en masse seek to compel oversight agency to investigate their cases
The Office of Special Counsel dropped the probationary worker appeals after Trump fired the agency's head.
Workforce
Unions urge VA to restore bargaining ahead of deadline
President Trump’s order extending a ban on collective bargaining to additional agencies opened the door for more labor groups to continue representing employees at the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments.
Oversight
Democrats want to know how the Forest Service is funding its deferred resignation program
The Forest Service chief told one Senate committee that the funding came from annual appropriations and another that the agency was dipping into money provided in two Biden-era laws.
Tech
Government pacing toward increased IT contract spending despite DOGE cuts
A new administration and new priorities haven’t slowed the federal government’s spend on IT.
Management
Treasury, GSA partner to reward fed employees who ID wasteful contract spending
Parts of the program could eventually expand beyond the Treasury Department.
Pay & Benefits
Legislation to end government shutdowns returns to Capitol Hill
Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, and Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., have brought back a bill aimed at ending the costly budget impasses, a proposal that’s historically had little success in Congress.
Workforce
Social Security office that helps members of Congress assist their constituents slashed by up to 94%
A spokesperson said that Social Security's congressional affairs work is continuing in offices across the agency.
Tech
AI platform rolls out tools for federal networks with no data retention
The new “Perplexity for Government” initiative will automatically identify federal networks to provide tailored search and security services.
Tech
‘Whole-of-nation’ effort needed to deter nation-state hackers, new White House cyber director says
Newly confirmed ONCD director Sean Cairncross wants to work with the private sector to develop a toolkit for stopping foreign hackers and boosting U.S. cyberdefenses.
Exclusive
Workforce