Workforce
Agencies’ effort to unwind project labor agreement requirements ‘flatly contradict’ order establishing them, judge says
The Trump administration had sought to neutralize a Biden-era executive order requiring contractors to negotiate with unions ahead of major construction projects with broad exceptions, something specifically barred by the underlying order.
Defense
Hegseth to Air Force: Figure out how to modify Qatari jet
Converting the luxury plane into Air Force One could cost more than $1 billion, one senator said.
Management
USDA wants to modernize farmer services, even as staffing cuts could hurt the effort
The department plans to digitize farmer-facing applications that are still on paper.
Pay & Benefits
Retirement cuts tweaked in House reconciliation package
The latest draft of the GOP’s plan to cut federal spending to pay for tax cuts and increased immigration enforcement no longer un-grandfathers federal workers hired before 2014 from increased retirement contribution rules passed in the 2010s and delays implementation of the FERS supplement.
Management
NIH director bemoans RIFs, mocks ‘5 things’ email and says agency shoulders blame for COVID outbreak in first address
New agency head also says some laid off employees may be recalled, including to help address supply shortages at labs and medical centers.
Oversight
Biden’s Social Security head ran afoul of the Hatch Act, watchdog agency says
Because Martin O’Malley left the federal government at the end of the Biden administration, the Office of Special Counsel said that it would not pursue disciplinary action against him.
Workforce
Neglect the IC’s human capital at our peril
COMMENTARY | Taking a blunt approach to the Intelligence Community's workforce management strategy can produce dire repercussions, as it did prior to 9/11.
Management
It's time for a Security Clearance Ready Reserve
COMMENTARY | A Clearance Ready Reserve would serve as a strategic hedge against attrition, espionage and workforce volatility.
Workforce
Appeals court issues stay of judge’s decision blocking Trump’s anti-union order
The Trump administration may recommence stripping the union rights of two-thirds of the federal workforce, for now.
Oversight
Pandemic IG spent end of tenure simultaneously in leadership at a different agency
A good government group argued the “double hatting” undermines public trust in the independent watchdogs, while the Housing and Urban Development Department said there was no overlap between Brian Miller’s work as an inspector general and general counsel.
Workforce
A judge has moved again to block Trump’s anti-union EO
Just weeks after issuing a preliminary injunction to block an edict aimed at stripping two-thirds of the federal workforce of its collective bargaining rights, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman issued a similar decision as it relates to U.S. Foreign Service officers.
Workforce
The Trump administration is pausing RIFs but probationary firings are resuming
Some agencies have walked back their layoffs, but the court order spurring that action is not preventing re-firings.
Management
Legislative watchdog rebuffs DOGE efforts to install on-site team
“DOGE’s attempted intrusion into an independent, nonpartisan legislative branch agency is a direct assault on our nation’s sacred separation of powers,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee.
Workforce
FBI to reassign 1,500 employees outside of D.C. area, vacate current HQ, Patel says
The location of the FBI’s headquarters has been a contested issue for more than a decade, as the downtown Hoover building deteriorates.
Management
DOGE went looking for phone fraud at SSA — and found almost none
Since SSA installed new anti-fraud checks on claims made over the phone, only two claims out of over 110,000 were found to likely be fraudulent, according to internal documents obtained by Nextgov/FCW.
Workforce
Federal contract employees who alleged discrimination forced to wait as enforcement agency is dismantled
Layoffs are scheduled to take effect at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs on June 6. Between the reduction in force and separation incentives, the agency’s workforce is expected to shrink by about 90%.
Pay & Benefits
House GOP’s law enforcement ‘exemption’ from retirement cuts is illusory, groups say
A pair of organizations representing federal law enforcement officers urged lawmakers to strengthen carveouts of an array of proposed cuts to federal workers’ retirement benefits but stopped short of calling for their withdrawal.
Pay & Benefits
Getting ready to retire
What you should do and how you should approach your retirement and health benefits planning before leaving federal service.
Management
The Trump administration is staffing up parts of FAA, it’s also incentivizing thousands of departures and threatening layoffs
More than 2,700 employees have indicated they want to take an incentive offer to leave the agency, though the final number is subject to change.
Oversight