Exclusive
Oversight
USCIS’ arbitrarily strict FOIA policy is keeping some migrants from receiving their immigration records, whistleblower alleges
In a protected disclosure to Congress, an agency employee claims that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services since 2024 has been finding ways to reject Freedom of Information Act requests from migrants in order to make it seem like the agency is complying with a court order.
Pay & Benefits
Feds will have Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 off
Federal employees will now have a five-day weekend, beginning on Christmas Eve.
Pay & Benefits
Trump finalizes 1% pay raise for most feds
The president also tasked OPM Director Scott Kupor with analyzing whether to provide federal law enforcement officers with a 3.8% pay increase, in line with what military service members are set to receive next month.
Pay & Benefits
DHS opens up new $60K bonuses for Border Patrol agents, other officers
The Trump administration is boosting incentives as it seeks to meet lofty hiring goals.
Pay & Benefits
Retiring soon? Key decisions every federal employee must make
From survivor benefits and health coverage to leave payouts and TSP choices, federal employees nearing retirement face deadlines that can permanently shape their finances.
Defense
Trump rebrands troop housing subsidy as ‘warrior dividend’ bonus checks
More than $2.9 billion in reconciliation funds was allocated to beef up troop housing allowances. Now, it’s being used for $1,776 checks.
Exclusive
Management
Trump to limit top ratings for all feds and consolidate scoring in forthcoming rule
Though the forced distribution of performance ratings is “categorically prohibited” under current rules, federal agencies already appear to be adopting the system, before the proposal has even been announced.
Updated
Workforce
Additional shutdown layoffs must be rolled back, judge rules
The order is set to impact around 700 workers at four agencies.
Tech
Warren, Sanders push Labor on plans to create a centralized unemployment ‘starting point’
The senators worry that the planned intake of applicant data at the Labor Department will create "grievous economic and privacy risks for millions of Americans.”
Management
Postal Service hopes selling access to its final-leg delivery network will provide much-needed revenue
Because the U.S. Postal Service delivers to all U.S. addresses, many private companies rely on the agency to ship to harder-to-reach places. Postmaster General David Steiner wants to enable more businesses to utilize this service.
Management
Transfers at the Education Department spark fallout warnings from Senate Democrats
Lawmakers, union leaders and education officials say shifting programs out of the department risks losing expertise, adding bureaucracy and weakening support for students and families.
Pay & Benefits
OPM finalizes rule simplifying recruitment and relocation incentive waivers
The final regulation allows the federal government’s HR agency to delegate its authority to offer recruitment and relocation incentive payments to other agencies.
Workforce
Appellate judges mull challenge to Trump’s efforts to bust most federal labor unions
Much of the discussion in oral arguments for three separate lawsuits revolved around whether an administrative board could hear unions’ legal claims and whether President Trump used a faulty definition of 'national security' when he devised two executive orders banning unions at most federal agencies.
Tech
Want an AI job at Treasury? Write a 10-page analysis of ‘Great Gatsby’
While the application requirement may actually be a test on using artificial intelligence tools, an AI expert said that the skills being measured are not relevant to the job listed.
Management
Potential NSA, Cyber Command leader nomination transmitted to Senate
The signals intelligence titan and combatant command have been without a permanent leader for months since far-right activist Laura Loomer pushed for the firing of Gen. Timothy Haugh in April.
Workforce
Air traffic controllers calling out sick during shutdown may have acted illegally, FAA chief says
Agency will “ask tough questions” of those workers even as administrator concedes agency has “a retention issue” among controllers.
Tech
Lawmakers question VA health record’s costs and batched deployments
The agency is looking to deploy its new Oracle Health EHR near simultaneously at four Michigan medical facilities in April 2026.
Management
Lawmaker looks to shake up VA’s software management
Legislation from Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., prioritizes waste reduction when it comes to the roughly $1 billion that VA spends annually on software assets.
Management
Fallout from DOGE cuts: How defunding derailed a federal microgrant strategy
COMMENTARY | Several presidents have criticized the complexities of the federal grants process, but DOGE cuts to the Justice Department have made the process worse for local law enforcement rather than helping.
Workforce