Pay & Benefits
OPM’s retirement backlog skyrockets as deferred resignees begin offboarding
The federal government’s dedicated HR agency is sitting on the most pending retirement applications since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Management
Major takeaways for federal agencies on the funding deal to reopen government
Congress appears poised to end the longest-ever shutdown later this week with a bill with major implications for several key agencies.
Workforce
Education Department can’t use furloughed employees’ out-of-office emails to blame shutdown on Democrats, judge rules
The American Federation of Government Employees filed a lawsuit after Education staffers reported that their out-of-office messages had been modified.
Pay & Benefits
Use this checklist to make the most of 2026 FEHB Open Season
From rising premiums to fewer plan choices, this guide walks you through reviewing benefits, checking provider networks and using tax-advantaged accounts to keep your healthcare costs in check next year.
Tech
Energy names its third permanent CIO since the start of Trump 2.0
Dawn Zimmer has had multiple stints this year as the department’s acting CIO.
Breaking News
Management
Senate moves shutdown-ending deal that would ensure backpay and unwind some federal layoffs
A bipartisan agreement to end the longest-ever government shutdown, would fund some agencies through fiscal 2026 and the rest through January, and guarantee backpay for furloughed workers.
Management
Shutdown fight in the Senate likely to drag through the weekend
Senators are staying in Washington through the weekend as talks continue on a short-term spending deal to end the government shutdown, with both parties trading proposals on health care subsidies and federal worker pay.
Oversight
Housing regulator watchdog ousted, another in Trump’s ongoing replacement of acting inspectors general
Trump has replaced at least five acting IGs and fired nearly 20 of the oversight officials.
Oversight
SSA chief Bisignano faces probe from Wyden and Warren over Fiserv stock and federal contract concerns
The Social Security commissioner has come under fire in recent days as shares in his former company depreciated shortly after his tax-advantaged divestiture from the financial technology firm.
Defense
Space Force astronauts? New report says guardians in space would be an asset for future ops
Experts say humans in space would be an advantage, alongside needed tech improvements.
Tech
Foreign hackers may have accessed CBO systems in recent 'security incident'
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost and economic impact of proposed legislation and helps forecast federal spending, revenues, deficits and debt.
Workforce
Unions sue over ‘loyalty question’ for federal jobseekers
Earlier this year, the Office of Personnel Management added a series of essay questions to the federal hiring process, including one that asked jobseekers about their favorite Trump executive order or policy priority.
Workforce
There is bipartisan interest in federal worker layoff protections in any deal to reopen government
Republicans have floated reversing RIFs and Democrats are noting promising progress in negotiations.
Pay & Benefits
OPM’s new blog touts modernization while retirees wait for answers during the shutdown
In his “Secrets of OPM” posts, Director Scott Kupor outlines efforts to digitize retirement processing and improve efficiency, but offers little guidance for those caught in the shutdown backlog.
Tech
DHS says shutdown layoffs at CISA will proceed despite court injunction
The cybersecurity agency says it has complied with the court’s order because the firing of 54 people in its Stakeholder Engagement Division was planned beforehand and doesn’t affect unionized employees.
Updated
Workforce
‘We’ll still continue to serve’: Many federal employees turn to volunteering during shutdown
Many government workers say they have also had to rely on nonprofits for assistance during the funding lapse.
Workforce
Lawsuit offers new details of VA’s anti-union EO implementation
According to a legal challenge from AFGE’s National Veterans Affairs Council, VA Secretary Doug Collins failed to implement President Trump's executive orders aimed at ousting unions from most federal agencies when he issued exemptions to a handful of unions that had not challenged the administration in court.
Management
FAA plans to cut 10% of flights in major markets due to shutdown-related staffing issues
Air traffic controllers are increasingly not showing up to work while their paychecks are withheld.
Management
Fresh from election wins, Dems demand Trump meeting over shutdown
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, calling for a bipartisan meeting to end the government shutdown.
Workforce