Pay & Benefits

Did you forget to file for Social Security?

Federal employees older than 70 may be leaving thousands on the table. Find out if you or your spouse are missing Social Security benefits.

Workforce

Fired FBI officials were not afforded due process rights, agent association argues

Five agents were fired earlier this month, exacerbating concerns about politicization at the law enforcement agency.

Special Report Workforce

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill funds an unprecedented surge in federal law enforcement. Is it even possible?

Administration officials express confidence they can transform federal agencies with record-level hiring, even as they remain realistic about the challenge ahead of them.

Workforce

US spy chief announces plans to shrink ODNI

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the agency will shrink by over 40% as part of a 2.0 restructuring that includes a focus on “ending the weaponization of intelligence.”

Tech

Login.gov to add passports as identity proofing option

Trump appointees have called the in-house service a priority for anti-fraud efforts.

Oversight

OPM will forego FEVS in 2025, despite law requiring it

The Office of Personnel Management did not answer questions regarding how the federal government will administer a survey of the 16 core Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey questions, which are spelled out in statute.

Pay & Benefits

New Education rule could end public service loan forgiveness for some and open a wealth of questions

The proposed rule would exclude employers from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program if they engage in “activities that have a substantial illegal purpose,” but raises even more questions for the program. 

Management

Improved emergency communication in federal buildings focus of new bipartisan legislation

Federal building security has been a longstanding concern for lawmakers and government watchdogs.

Pay & Benefits

Coverage for gender-affirming care will be eliminated from FEHB plans in 2026 

The federal HR agency removed all coverage of gender-affirming care from its health benefits program, barring three exceptions, following two recent executive orders.

Management

19 states sue the Energy Department over new funding caps on sustainable energy projects

States say the new 10% cap on “indirect” and “fringe” costs for State Energy Program projects is arbitrary, unlawful and could cause job losses and project cuts.

Management

Politicizing the federal grantmaking process

COMMENTARY | The Trump administration's new approach to federal grantmaking oversight runs the risk of becoming enmeshed in fresh red tape.

Workforce

The Trump administration is considering notifying probationary employees they were fired for cause, actually

The proposal comes despite a new audit finding 99.5% of the 7,300 fired IRS probationers had received fully successful performance ratings, or no ratings at all.

Workforce

Judge certifies class in lawsuit on behalf of ex-USAID workers, contractors

Though a federal appeals court previously blocked Judge Theodore Chuang’s injunction finding the Trump administration’s efforts to shutter the foreign aid agency to be ‘likely unconstitutional,’ the case is again moving forward under an amended complaint.

Management

Spending transparency data posted by Trump budget office after court order

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said that the apportionment information must be “promptly made public.”

News

4 GOP states send nearly 1,000 National Guard to D.C. for Trump crackdown

Governors from Ohio, Mississippi, South Carolina and West Virginia agreed to send National Guardsmen to the nation's capital.

Exclusive Management

Trump administration hopes AI can mitigate staffing losses, federal CIO says

Gregory Barbaccia, who was named the federal chief information officer just a week into the new administration, said one of his priorities is learning how to do more with less.

Management

New law aims to avoid repeat of recent scandals at Veterans Affairs

VA in 2024 paid millions in critical skill bonuses to senior executives and received nearly $3 billion in supplemental funding to address a budget shortfall that ultimately didn’t materialize.

Management

Inspect what you expect: Lessons in leadership and accountability

COMMENTARY | Effective leadership means setting goals, monitoring progress and ensuring results, writes one former federal manager.